Lindley Pitches Rutgers Softball Past Louisville In BIG EAST Split

Sunday, April 6

Piscataway. N.J.

Rutgers

13-20, 0

Louisville

19-14, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Louisville	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
RUTGERS	1	0	4	1	0	0	X	6	8	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Louisville	0	5	0	3	1	0	0	9	10	2
RUTGERS	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	5	4

Lindley Pitches Rutgers Softball Past Louisville In BIG EAST Split

Apr 06 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Sophomore Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) allowed two hits, while striking out six batters in seven innings as the Rutgers softball team (13-21, 2-6 BIG EAST) defeated Louisville (20-14, 6-2 BIG EAST) 6-0 in game one of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. Louisville won game two of the twin bill 9-2.

The Scarlet Knights scored a run in the first, four in the third and one more in the fourth inning to provide Lindley with all the run support needed. Lindley posted a season-best six strikeouts in the complete game victory to improve to 4-3 on the season. She induced a total of 11 groundouts to keep the Cardinal offense on its heels as they posted just two hits in the game (one in the second inning and one in the seventh). She also did not relinquish a single walk during the entire game.

Junior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) singled to start game one and moved to third base on a double by Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.). Shaw then scored on wild pitch by Louisville's Kristen Wadwell to take the 1-0 edge.

Rutgers picked up four more runs on three hits in the third to balloon the lead to 5-0. Senior Shantai Dixon (Sayreville, N.J.) doubled to right field and advanced to third on a groundout. Heller then walked and went to second on a single by senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.). The single also allowed Dixon to score.

With runners now on first and second, junior Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) cleared the bases and added to her team-leading home run total with her third long ball of the season. The Scarlet Knights added their final score in the fourth on a pinch-hit RBI single to left center by Ashley Hartley (Ripon, Calif.).  Hartley drove in freshman Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), who pinch ran for junior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) after Hodges singled to start the inning.

Lindley ended the game the way she started, with solid pitching as Louisville managed just one hit over the final five innings.

Louisville reversed its fortunes in game two of the doubleheader with the Cardinals scattering nine runs over three innings to take the 9-2 win. UofL scored five runs in the second inning to take an early lead, however, the Scarlet Knights chipped away at the deficit with two runs of its own in the third.

Shaw walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then moved to third on an error by the second baseman. Junior Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) then hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop which was mishandled and allowed Shaw to score.

Two batters later, the Scarlet Knights loaded the bases before driving in the second run with a walk to Hodges. Although RU pulled to within three runs, it was not enough as Louisville tacked on three more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to pick up the victory.

The Scarlet Knights will go up against Rider on Tuesday, April 8, at the RU Softball Complex, before heading on a four-opponent road trip.