SOFTBALL: Lady Leopards Blank Marlington 6-0
FULL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Louisville 6, Marlington 0
The Lady Leopards improved to 7-0 in the NBC after they defeated the Marlington Dukes 6-0 at the Louisville Field of Dreams Tuesday afternoon. Chandler Rice went 3-for-3 with a double, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored and Gianna Falcone pitched a 4-hit shutout to lead the Lady Leps.
Rice wasted no time in getting the Leopards on the board early. She rocketed a blast into a gap in left field that brought home Emily Isla from second. Isla reached base via one of her two singles on the day and her and Rice would end up combining for 4 of the Leopards 6 runs.
The Leopards largest inning of production came in the third. Brittany Flanigan screamed a pitch off the 
center-field wall that landed her on second. Then Isla produced her second single of the game to set-up runners at the corners with just one out. An infield error allowed Katie Cozy to reach first safely as well as score Flanigan from third base.
After that, Rice once again came through with a big-time hit as she smacked an RBI single to center that scored Isla. Annie Woolf then grounded to the shortstop who elected to throw home. Consequently, Cozy slid feet first under the tag for the score. Finally, the Leopards added their fourth run of the inning when Shelby Swigert hit an opposite way single to left field. The hit brought home Rice to make it 5-0 Lady Leopards.
Louisville’s only other run came in the fifth inning. Rice singled aboard for her third hit of the contest then stole second easily after a change-up was thrown. Woolf then advanced Rice to third on a groundout to the pitcher and Jordan Monnot provided the RBI single to left field that scored Rice.
Marlington halted a potential big sixth inning for the Leopards offensively when they turned a 6-5-4 double play. Shortstop Kayla Hardesty appeared to have caught a line drive off the bat of Isla. However, the ball jarred loose and fell to the dirt. Louisville’s runners froze thinking the ball had been caught and Hardesty flipped to Mercedez Wood at third. Wood bobbled the ball but gained control and tapped the bag before Falcone could slide in safely. Wood then turned and threw to second baseman Abby Canale for a double play.
Marlington’s defensive efforts also included two fine catches by center-fielder Sydney Yoho. However, the Dukes efforts would not be enough as Falcone shut their offense down from within the circle. She allowed a Marlington runner on base in five of the seven innings she pitched, yet none of them ever reached home plate. Falcone retired 10 of the last 12 hitters she faced and also struck out four of them.
The win is the Lady Leopards fifth straight over the Dukes and they are now 21-27 against Marlington all-time. Louisville remains undefeated at the midway mark of NBC play and will continue in conference play when travelling to Alliance on Thursday.
PICTURES
Box Score
Team 123-456-7–R-H-E
Marlington 000-000-0–0-4-2
Louisville 104-010-X–6-10-1
Flanigan | 1-3 | 2B, Run
— Hoover | 0-1 |
Isla | 2-4 | 2 Runs
Cozy | 0-3 | Run
Rice | 3-3 | 2B, SB, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs
Woolf | 1-3 | SB, RBI
Monnot | 1-3 | BB, RBI
Swigert | 1-3 | SB, RBI
Falcone | 1-3 |
Baumgardner | 0-3 |
Records: Louisville 14-3, 7-0; Marlington 1-11, 1-6
NEXT UP: The Lady Leps will next travel to Alliance to take on the Aviators on Thursday, April 19 at 4:30 PM. JV will also travel to Alliance at the same time. Louisville has taken the last five meetings against the Aviators and leads the all-time series 13-5. Louisville defeated Alliance at home earlier this year 12-0.
JV REPORT
Louisville 14, Marlington 2, 5 innings
NO REPORT.
