Softball takes 2 in Louisville
The two games were the last in the softball non-conference schedule.
Published March 30, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In the last of its non-conference schedule, MU softball coach Ehren Earleywine said his team had to fight off "cobwebs" in its first game against the Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday.
The slow start led to a 2-0 deficit after a series of hits off of junior pitcher Jen Bruck in the third inning. But the four-run sixth inning, featuring a a three-run home run by junior Amanda Renth, led to a 5-2 victory. The team also won the second game of the doubleheader 4-2.
"It looked like we hadn't woken up yet," Earleywine said of the slow start. "I was a little worried about that because we've been traveling and had so many days off."
The team had not played since it beat Texas Tech 7-4 on March 24, a game in which Bruck pitched six no-hit innings. Due to weather, the team's planned second game against the Red Raiders was canceled, and the team was forced to reschedule its Tuesday game against Louisville for Wednesday. Earleywine said the team was unable to do anything softball-related between Sunday and Wednesday.
Renth had two hits and four RBI's in Wednesday's first game. She had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning that brought in the team's fifth run in the 5-2 victory. In the second game, she did not get a hit, but reached base twice on walks.
Earleywine said Renth, who has been walked intentionally 10 times this season, has earned the respect of opposing pitchers.
"Whether they intentionally walk her or not, people are very careful to pitch her and rightfully so," he said. "She's earned that."
The team also faced adversity in the second game. After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Tigers fell behind 2-1. But the team took the lead for good on a home run, a two-run shot from freshman Julie Silver in the fourth inning.
"It's nice to get unsuspected runs," Earleywine said. "Julie hitting a home run is not something that you count on, so that's a nice bonus."
Bruck singled in junior Micaela Minner in the seventh for an insurance run, and the Tigers won 4-2.
Earleywine said he was somewhat happy with his team's hitting but said improvements are still in order.
"We did a pretty good job with the bats, but we have to still do a better job of situational count hitting," he said. "When we get into a hitter's count, we're too often and too many times swinging at pitches that aren't great pitches to hit and we need to do a better job of that, because when you get against great pitching, it's imperative that you make good decisions when you're in those good hitting counts."
The team will play its Big 12 home opener at 2 p.m. on Saturday when the Texas Longhorns come to town.