Virginia Falls to Louisville in Extra Innings, 6-5
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HENDERSON, Nev. The Virginia softball team (6-4) lost 6-5 in eight innings to Louisville (9-1) Sunday in the final game of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. Senior Carly Winger belted her first home run of the season for Virginia, who went 3-3 on the weekend.
Louisville scored the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth. International tie-breaker rules put pinch runner Patrika Barlow on second base. The first batter, Megan Bivins, doubled to right to end the game.
Kristen Wadwell (5-1) earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game. She allowed five runs, three of them earned, and struck out six.
Virginia’s Stephanie Coates (1-1) took the loss, throwing five innings and giving up one run in the eighth. Louisville had just three hits off the freshman, who finished with two strikeouts. Senior Karla Wilburn made her fifth straight start and pitched the first two innings. She allowed five runs on six hits and struck out two.
Louisville was quickly on the board, scoring two runs in the first. Melissa Roth led off with a single. Two batters later, Chelsea Bemis put one over the left field fence for a 2-0 Cardinal lead.
Virginia got one back in the top of the second. With one out, Kendall doubled down the left field line. The next batter, Snyder, singled to center and Kendall came around to beat the throw to home plate.
The Cardinals tallied four hits in the second inning to lead to three more runs. A Kassie Stanfill single to left started the inning and she would move to second on a sacrifice bunt. Another single by Vanessa and a Virginia fielding error scored Stanfill and Megan Bivins, who came on to pinch run after a walk. James would later score on a Roth single up the middle.
The Cavaliers answered in the top of the third. With one out, Cipolloni walked. The next batter, Winger, blasted the ball to center for her first home run of the year and cut the lead to two, 5-3.
Virginia tied the game in the top of fifth. Pittman led off with a single to right and Cipolloni reached after a bunt single. After Winger walked, Tacke ripped a ball right through the second baseman’s legs, ruled a fielding error, but both Pittman and Cipolloni came around to score. Winger and Tacke were left on base after the next three batters, Kendall, Snyder and Koren, failed to reach base.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh, Louisville scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Cavaliers wrap up tournament play next weekend at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. Virginia will play Troy at 9 a.m.Saturday.