A three-run eighth inning lifted visiting Lipscomb to a 4-1 win over the University of Louisville softball team Tuesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (25-14) will continue their home stand against in-state rival Western Kentucky Wednesday at 6 p.m.
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings of play, Lipscomb’s Destinee Brewer led off the top of the eighth with a single. Kasey Gibson followed with a bunt attempt that bounced in front of the plate and stayed fair and Abby Fenichel was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Brewer crossed the plate on Caitlin Plocheck’s RBI hit to put the Bisons on top 2-1. An RBI fielder’s choice by Sarah Higgins and a single by Hannah Devault added a pair of insurance runs.
The Bisons (32-13) jumped to a 1-0 lead behind Peyton Ward’s one-out solo home run in the top of the second.
The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the fourth when Becker connected on a leadoff double and was lifted for pinch runner freshman Celene Funke. Two outs later, junior Alison Szydlowski belted out an RBI single which saw Funke safe on a play at the plate to even the score at 1-1.
Lipscomb pitcher Mandy Jordan (21-7) held the Cards in check, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five while retiring the final 13 batters she faced in the game. Plocheck paced the Bisons offensively with a 3-for-4, one run, one RBI performance at the plate.
Maryssa Becker (19-8) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out six in eight innings. After giving up a home run in the second, the senior retired 13 straight batters before allowing a double in the sixth. Becker, senior Jordan McNary and junior Jamie Soles each had a hit.
“Our defense was great today,” said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. “We had a game plan offensively, but we didn’t execute it.”
Lori Korte
Assistant Sports Information Director
University of Louisville Athletics