Cards Defeat Howard, Missouri to Close Out NFCA Leadoff Classic
The University of Louisville softball team defeated Howard University 8-0 in five innings and Missouri 4-0 in the continuation of Saturday’s halted game on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Field. The Cardinals finished their opening weekend with a 4-1 record and three straight shutouts to finish the tournament. Their only loss that 8-0 loss to instate-rival UK. Their wins included the two mentioned above, and a 4-2 win over South Alabama, as well as a 10-0 win over Southern.
Gophers Take Hilltoppers in Final Weekend Game
The Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers fell short to Minnesota Sunday morning as both teams wrapped up the neutral weekend tournament, The Spring Games, down in Leesburg, Florida. The 7-4 match gave the Gophers their second win over WKU on the weekend after a 10-0 game on Friday. WKU Softball picked up where they left off Saturday morning, finishing two more innings against Butler from Friday afternoon, to run-rule them 10-0 in five full frames. Putting in a day’s work, the Hilltoppers sought Michigan in a doubleheader, falling in both 5-2, going to extra innings in the later game, 9 innings, at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.
Racers Win Final Game In Texas
The Murray State softball team edged UTEP, 7-6, Sunday at Poly Wells Field in Abilene, Texas as part of the 2023 Wildcat Invitational. The win allowed the Racers to leave the Lone Star State with a 2-3 record. Defeating A&M Corpus Christi in game one Saturday 5-1, but falling to host Abilene Christian, 13-12, in eight innings despite a seven-run rally. Two losses Friday also contributed to the record as the Racers fell 1-0 to A&M Corpus Christi and 3-0 to UTEP.
Kentucky’s Victory Effort Stalled by #6 Texas in 4-4 Drop-Dead Tie
After the No. 17 Wildcats took down St. John’s 14-4 in five innings and beat Louisville 8-0 in five innings on Opening Day of the 2023 season. Saturday was rained out, and then came Sunday. Kentucky and #6 Texas played to a 4-4 tie on Sunday afternoon to conclude the 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Florida. Kentucky scored seven unanswered runs in the final three innings of the game and took a 7-4 lead after it hit in the eighth inning. The game had a drop-dead time of 3:30 p.m. ET due to the travel schedule of both teams leaving the Clearwater area tonight. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Texas was down to its last strike, with two outs in the inning and an 0-2 count – the 3:30 p.m. ET drop-dead time was reached and that ended the game. With Texas not completing its at bat in the eighth inning, by NCAA rules, the score reverts back to the most previously-completed inning, which in this case is the seventh inning. Thus, the final score in the game is recorded as a 4-4 tie, the second tie in program history. The NCAA Selection Committee will consider the game a tie when evaluating both teams for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.