CARDS HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN WIN OVER KNIGHTS
The Louisville Softball squad found their bats and exploded for eight runs on ten hits last night in Ulmer Stadium -- downing the Bellarmine Knights 8-1.
In the first "Battle of Eastern Parkway" since the Knights joined the A-Sun Conference and Division I Athletics, Louisville got home runs from Makaya Hurst and Carmyn Greenwood in the seven-run win. Starter Taylor Roby and Jen Leonhardt combined for a six hits allowed, and a one run performance from the circle to even the Cards record out to 7-7 and drop the Knights to 4-8.
Louisville started the contest in a big way with Greenwood tripling in the bottom of the first inning, but was picked off at third by an alert throw from Knights catcher Sydney Young and Louisville did not get on the board in the opening inning.
The Cards struck for a run in the second, and that run came from the bat of Hurst, The first baseman from St Louis, MO sent a towering blast to center field that easily cleared the fence and probably startled some of the patrons viewing the contest from the outfield berm. It was 1-0 Cards after two innings.
Roby retired the Bellarmine batters in top of the third, after allowing an opening walk and UofL added three more runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the third frame. After Maddy Newman started the inning with a single to left, the older Greenwood sister (Carmyn) blasted an ball down the left field line for two RBI's to make it 3-0 Cards. Jordyn Wolfe followed with a triple to left and that closed the book on Bellarmine starting pitcher Carson Goatley. Kaylee Terral entered the circle for the Knights, but threw a wild pitch that allowed Wolfe to cross the plate. The Cards would touch Terral for a single (Roby) and draw a walk (Rebecca Chung) but a Cassady Greenwood fly out to center got the Knights out of the inning. After three innings, the Cards held a 4-0 lead.
Roby allowed a walk and single in the top of the fourth but the Knights could not plate either of the two runners. In the bottom of the inning, the Cards added two more runs -- on a Taryn Weddle walk, Maddy Newman single and two out, two RBI single from Wolfe. Going into the top of the fifth, UofL was comfortably in charge 6-0.
Jen Leonhardt assumed pitching duties in the fifth after Roby delivered a four-inning, four hits allowed and two strikeout performance. Leonhardt struggled a bit at the start with the top of the Bellarmine batting order, allowing a single to left by Grace Werner and RBI double to Knights second baseman Hannah Webb. She quickly regained control, though, and struck ou the next three Knights batters to end the BU part of the inning. The Cards responded with two more runs in the home half of the fifth when Leonhardt started things with a single. After Cas Greenwood reached on a hit-by-pitch offering from Terral, Weddle drove home two more Louisville runs with a single up the middle. That bumped the score to 8-1 Cards.
Leonhardt allowed a walk and single in the top of the sixth, but the Knights couldn't plate either runner...Leonhardt recording the final two out by striking out the Knights plate visitors. The Cards sent three to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but they went down in order, with two groundouts and a swinging strike out.
Bellarmine had one more chance to score in the top of the seventh, but Leonhardt retired the side in order. Your final: Louisville 8 - Bellarmine 1
A beautiful, balmy night for Softball last night at Ulmer for the Cards vs. Knights and some impressive pitching from both Roby and Leonhardt.
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Head Louisville Softball coach Holly Aprile spoke about the win after the contest:
APRILE ON CARDS WIN OVER BELLARMINE
Up next, The Cards were scheduled to play Valparaiso on Thursday, but that one has been postponed until Sunday due to Valpo travel issues. Louisville does welcome in Western Kentucky for the Red and Black Challenge on Saturday as well, but, we'll keep an eye on the weather and changes could occur if the expected rain alters action. We'll update you on any changes here at your #1 source for the joy and excitement of UofL womens' athletics.
(Special thanks to UofL Softball S,I,D Lori Korte for sending the Aprile audio and to JAred Anderson for today's photos)
Have a wonderful Wednesday
paulie
This Cardinal hitting kinda comes and goes from what I've seen. What's going on with Funke this year?
ReplyDeleteNick O
Seems like she’s been in a little bit of a hitting slump. To me, there’s that indecisiveness some days on whether to slap hit and race it down the line or stand in and swing for the deep ball. She is capable of both.
DeleteGreat photos and a great write up today guys !!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you figure the Cards WBB will be seeded in San Antonio? Are we a #2 seed in one of the brackets?
Curtis "Be Kind" Franklin
Two losses to an obvious NCAA Tournament 1-seed and a loss to a solid FSU team, several wins against tournament teams, and no real bad losses... should be a 2-seed and a top 8 ranking.
Delete