Box score
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team scored four runs in the first inning and held on to take an 8-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University on the final day of the Cardinal Classic.
NKU's second game of the day was canceled with NKU leading Eastern Kentucky by a score of 5-3 in the second inning, as increasing snow made the conditions unplayable. With the results, NKU moved to 1-8 on the season.
The Cardinals scored their four first-inning runs with the help of five walks by NKU pitching and a pair of wild pitches. NKU pitching buckled down and held Louisville scoreless in the second and third innings before Whitney Arion's one-out single in the bottom of the fourth scored Katie Keller, who had tripled to right one batter prior. Louisville got two more runs in the fifth inning on a Brittany Sims RBI-single and a Keller sacrifice fly.
The Norse were able to generate base runners in five of the game's six innings, and had a runner in scoring position in four of those innings, but failed to push a run across. Mandi McQueen and Natalie Papi got the hits for the Norse, while KC Straley drew two walks and stole a base.
Louisville ended the game in the sixth inning on Taner Fowler's RBI-single to left field, scoring Kayla Soles to invoke the eight-run rule.
The Cardinals (8-6) totaled 10 hits on the game, with Fowler and Tiarra Sanabria each putting up two-hit games. In the circle, the win went to Maryssa Becker, who struck out three in two innings of relief to go to 3-0 on the year. Kelley Benhase (0-2) took the loss for the Norse.
NKU will return to action next weekend at the Evansville Invitational. NKU will take on Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and the hosts Evansville.
