It took an extra pair of innings, but my beloved Louisville softball team scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th to top Kentucky 7-6 Wednesday night at Ulmer Stadium.
Melissa Roth started the damage in the key half inning with a one out single to right that scored former CC crush Candi Hicks from second to pull the Cards within one. After Courtney Moore walked, a Brooke McCrain single loaded the bases for centerfielder Kristi Cunningham.
Cunningham hit a weak ground ball to first, but Wildcat first baseman (PC?) Ashley Dimkich's throw home was wide allowing the tying and winning runs to score.
It wasn't the first time the Cards were forced to respond with their backs against the wall.
Down 3-2 in the home half of the seventh, third baseman Audrey Rendon delivered a key one out triple, and later scored from third to tie the game on a clutch two out single by McCrain.
I'm diggin' Audrey Rendon
in a big way this season
UK answered with a run in the top of the eighth, but an RBI single from Cardinal first baseman Sarah Totten forced the game into the ninth.
Rendon and McCrain led Louisville at the plate, going 3 for 5 with two runs scored an RBI and two runs scored between them.
Kristen Wadwell (7-5) picked up the win for the Cardinals (23-16), who will travel to Syracuse for a Big East doubleheader on Friday. Kentucky fell to 19-18.