College Softball News

No. 25 Louisville Softball Defeats Jacksonville 5-0

Lori Korte, Assistant Sports Information Director – University of Louisville Athletics (Photo Courtesy of Louisville Athletics)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -Junior Kelsi Jones was 2 for 3 with two runs and a stolen base while Rachel LeCoq and Caralisa Connell combined for a two-hit shutout as the No. 23/25 University of Louisville softball team defeated host Jacksonville 5-0 in the first game of the Jacksonville University Softball Tournament Friday evening. The Cardinals (4-2) will face Notre Dame at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

“It was great to come away with the win tonight,” said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. “We were finally able to string some timely hits together late in the game and I thought Rachel LeCoq came in and pitched well for us.”

The teams played through four scoreless innings before the Cardinals broke through with two runs in the fifth. Junior Kelsi Jones singled and stole second. Junior Brittany Duncan delivered a two-out RBI single to plate Jones who slid in under the tag of Jacksonville catcher Brooke Smith. Senior Katie Keller followed with an RBI single to send pinch-runner Morgan Meyer home and give Louisville a 2-0 lead.

The Dolphins (3-3) threatened in the bottom of the sixth when Emily Sanchez’s single to right field broke up the Cards’ no-hitter. Sanchez tried to stretch the single into a double, but right fielder Hannah Kiyohara and shortstop Whitney Arion teamed to throw her out at second for the second out of the inning. Cecile Gomez reached on an error and Smith singled. A walk to Stephanie Frances loaded the bases, but Rachel LeCoq got Jackie DiPiazza to ground out to first baseman Taner Fowler to end the threat.

The Cards put up a three- spot in the top of the seventh when Jones drew a leadoff walk and Arion followed with a bunt single. Duncan hit a laser to right field to bring Jones home. One out later, senior Maggie Ruckenbrod’s two-run double scored Arion and Duncan to make it a 5-0 game.
LeCoq (2-1) got the win, scattering two hits and striking out seven in 5.2 innings of relief. Duncan finished the game batting 2 for 4 with two RBIs and one run, Ruckenbrod was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Fowler was 2 for 4. The Cardinals posted a season-high 11 hits in the win.

Victoria Brown (2-1) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out three in 6.2 innings of work.

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