The 14th ranked University of Louisville
softball team defeated Nevada 5-3 Saturday morning in the first game of
the Preview featuring Bedlam Tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
“For the first time in quite a few games, this is the first time
I’ve seen us play aggressively offensively. Diving for the ball
defensively, if this is the way we’re going to achieve our goals, this
is the way we need to play for the rest of the season.”
The teams played through two scoreless innings before the Cardinals
used six hits to break through with five runs in the third. Vanessa
James started the frame with a leadoff double and took third on Melissa
Roth’s bunt single. Alicja Wolny followed with an RBI single. Chelsea
Bemis doubled, scoring Roth and placing runners on second and third for
Colby Wherry’s base hit. Jennifer Esteban’s hit plated Bemis and
Wherry came around to score on Jordan Trimble’s groundout to make it a
5-0 game.
The Wolfpack scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth when walks
were issued to Britton Murdock, Kelsey Starr and Chelsea Barilli. An
illegal pitch moved the runners again, putting Nevada on the scoreboard.
The runners advanced on a wild pitch, sending Starr home and Barilli
scored on another illegal pitch to make it a 5-3 game.
Nevada threatened to score again in the bottom of the seventh when Sam
Bias and Murdock walked. Starr’s fielder’s choice saw Murdock out at
second but placed runners on the corners with two outs. Murdock was
caught off of first base while the ball was in the circle for the final
out of the game.
Louisville starter Tori Collins (4-1) did not give up a run, scattered
three hits and struck out four in 5.2 innings of work. Roth and Wherry
each had a pair of hits in the game.
Mallory Darby (4-4) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight
hits and striking out two in 2.1 innings. Nevada drops to 6-8 on the
season.
U of L (14-3) will face No. 8/11 Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
evening.
