University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Earns Important Doubleheader Sweep of Louisville
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Louisville game one box -
Louisville game two box -
STORRS, Conn. (May 3, 2008) - The University of Connecticut picked up two key wins Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Louisville. The Huskies won game one 4-2, then earned a dramatic come from behind 8-7 victory in game two. UConn is now 27-21 overall and 13-7 in the BIG EAST. The Cardinals are 29-20 and 12-8.
The story of the day was Husky centerfielder Micah Truax (South Glen Falls, N.Y.). She came to the plate seven times in the two games, and hit 6-for-6 with one walk, two RBI and one run scored.
Game two of the doubleheader was one of the more exciting games Connecticut has played this season. Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell kept the Huskies off the board for the first four innings, as the Cardinals took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Allie Gendron (Belchertown, Mass.) was hit by a pitch, and then Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) doubled to advance her to third. Truax then hit a bloop double over the third baseman's glove that scored two runs and cut the Husky deficit to 3-2.
UConn seemed to put the game away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on second and third and one out, Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.) grounded the ball down to the first baseman who then threw it to the catcher in an attempt to stop the runner from scoring. However, pinch runner Tricia Sullivan (New Bedford, Mass.) was able to slide under the tag and tie the game at three. From there, Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) doubled to score another run, then Gendron tripled to score two more and make it 6-3 going into the top of the seventh.
Louisville wasn't done as they scored four runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning. It included a two run home run by centerfielder Kristi Cunningham, her third home run of the doubleheader. Brittany York walked with the bases loaded to give the Cardinals a 7-6 lead, but Kristina Tolles (Southington, Conn.) got the next batter to pop up to first base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Truax led the inning off with a walk. Then with one out, she stole second base. Julie Towers (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) singled to score her and tie the game at seven. The next two batters walked to load the bases. From there Tierney was able to draw the third walk in a row for the Huskies to force in Towers and give UConn the 8-7 win.
For the game Truax was 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Gendron was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
In game one, the Huskies got on the board in the first inning when Truax doubled to score Del Ponte and Gendron. Sullivan pitched well, keeping the Cardinals off the board for the first four innings.
In the top of the fifth, Cunningham homered to cut the UConn lead to 2-1. Later in the inning, a couple of doubles tied the game at two.
The Huskies were able to answer in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own. The blow came off a two-run home run by Del Ponte, her seventh of the season. Louisville threatened with two on and two out in the top of the seventh, but Sullivan got Colby Wherry to pop up to second base to secure the win.
In game one, Truax was 3-for-3 with one RBI. Sullivan pitched all seven innings giving up two runs on nine hits while striking out six.
The Huskies will conclude the regular season on Sunday when they host a doubleheader against current BIG EAST leader USF. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. It is senior day for UConn and the team's three seniors, Gendron, Tolles and Liz Gallinaro (Amherst, Mass.) will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
