No. 21 Louisville rallies late to down Spartans
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNCG (1-7) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Louisville (9-0) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| @ Greenville, N.C. | ECU Softball Stadium | ||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: Tori Collins (5-0) - Louisville |
| Loss: Cory Mattson (1-3) - UNCG |
| UNCG Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Alex Emeterio; Eileen Horsmon |
| 3B: Aisha Figueroa |
| HR: none |
| Louisville Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Kristin Austin |
| 3B: Kristin Austin |
| HR: Jordan Trimble |
GREENVILLE, N.C. – UNCG held a 4-1 lead after three innings but saw No. 21 Louisville rally for four late runs to take a 5-4 win at East Carolina's Pirate Clash on Saturday.
The Spartans (1-7) seemed poised to hand the undefeated Cardinals (9-0) their first loss of the season, jumping on Louisville early. Louisville is ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and No. 23 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll.
The Cardinals got a first-inning run on Taner Fowler's RBI groundout, but UNCG quickly answered with two in the second. After a two-out walk from Toni MacReynolds and a single by Tatiana Alcala, sophomore shortstop Aisha Figueroa laced a triple to left field to put the Spartans on top.
The following inning, Alex Emeterio and Eileen Horsmon led off with consecutive doubles to increase the lead. One out later, Heather Robb hit an RBI single through the left side to score Horsmon and make it 4-1.
UNCG pitcher Erica Navarette worked around a leadoff error in the bottom half of the frame, inducing a flyout before Katelyn Bedwell threw out Kristin Austin trying to steal second. Navarette then got another flyout to end the frame.
The Cardinals got to Navarette in the fifth, with Jordan Trimble and Jennifer Esteban leading off with infield singles and Austin roping a double to score Trimble and knock Navarette from the contest.
Reliever Cory Mattson got a groundout before Fowler's RBI fielder's choice pulled Louisville within a run. After a walk and a strikeout, Mattson induced another fielder's choice to end the inning with the Spartans still on top.
Dominique Madruga was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth, but Chelsea Leonard and Tori Collins combined to strike out the side after that as the Spartans were unable to take on an insurance run.
Down to their last six outs, the Cardinals reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Trimble's one-out homer tied the contest at 4 before Esteban popped up for the second out.
Austin tripled to the gap in left center, followed by a Katie Keller walk to put runners on the corners. Fowler came through yet again, dumping a single into right to bring in Austin with the go-ahead run.
Now it was the Spartans who were down to their last three outs, with the heart of the order coming to the plate. Collins, now in line for the win, retired the side in order as the Cardinals escaped with the win.
Emeterio finished 2-for-4 for the Spartans. Trimble was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Cardinals, while Fowler was 1-for-4 with three RBI.
Mattson (1-3) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings. Navarette was charged with three runs on six hits in four innings.
Collins (5-0) struck out four in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Starter Caralisa Connell avoided the loss despite allowing four runs on six hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. Leonard worked a scoreless 2 2/3 innings, striking out four.
The Spartans conclude play at the Pirate Clash on Sunday. UNCG will take on Virginia at 11 a.m. and Hofstra at 1 p.m.
AGATE
Louisville 5, UNCG 4 (Feb 18, 2012 at Greenville, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 022 000 0 - 4 6 2 (1-7)
Louisville.......... 100 022 X - 5 9 1 (9-0)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Erica Navarette; Cory Mattson(5) and Katelyn Bedwell. Louisville -
Caralisa Connell; Chelsea Leonard(3); Tori Collins(6) and Taner Fowler.
Win-Tori Collins(5-0) Loss-Cory Mattson(1-3) T-1:40 A-381
HR LOU - Jordan Trimble (1).
Weather: 55 Degrees, Mostly Sunny
Navarette faced 3 batters in the 5th.
- UNCG -