Cantley, Thomas Combine for No-Hitter as Leopards Soar Past Eagles – Softball

Louisville 11, GlenOak 0, 5 Innings

Sarah Cantley and Shae Thomas combined for a five inning no-hitter as the Louisville Leopards soared past the visiting GlenOak Golden Eagles 11-0 Tuesday at the Diamond of Dreams. With the win, Louisville is now 2-1 on the year.

Cantley started and pitched a perfect first two innings in retiring all 6 batters she faced and striking out 2. The Lady Leopards offense erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the second inning to give the blue and white a significant advantage. Shae Thomas took over the circle from Cantley after that and finished out the final three innings to record the victory. Thomas allowed a single runner in each inning via two walks and a hit batsmen, but did not allow a hit. She also fanned 4 en rout to the no-no.

This is just the second combined no-hitter in team history. The duo of Kirsten Wharmby and Morgan Harris held the Salem Quakers hitless on the road in a 9-0 victory on April 20, 2017. This was the first time Thomas contributed in a no-hitter for the Lady Leopards, while Cantley has thrown 4 solo no-hitters previously.

Overall this is the 12th recorded no-hitter in team history and second ever by Louisville against GlenOak. Gianna Falcone also no-hit the Golden Eagles in a 5-inning no-hitter during a 10-0 Leopard victory in the second game of a double header on March 24, 2012. In game one of that double header, Louisville also put up double digits in the second inning with 13 runs against GlenOak in an 18-2 thrashing.

Louisville likely set a team record when they scored 10 two-out runs in the bottom of the second inning Tuesday. Cantley walked to start the frame and Justina Sirohman followed with a bunt single to third. The next batter popped out and a fielder’s choice recorded the second out in the next at-bat.

Then the onslaught began. Sydney McKeever tripled to right field scoring Sirohman and Lexi Zavarelle to put the Leopards on the board. Teagan Rice singled home McKeever three pitches later and Kaycee Ollis brought her around via another triple to right field to put LHS ahead 4-0.

Alex Fankhauser followed and worked the count full. On the payoff pitch, Fankhauser ripped a 2-run homer over the left field fence to give Louisville a commanding 6-0 advantage. She would finish 2-for-2 on the evening to lead the Leopards.

The bases were cleared, but the Leopards weren’t finished. Kaylee Nolte hit the third triple of the inning which again went to right field. Cantley walked to put runners on the corners before Sirohman recorded her second hit of the inning. Her RBI double brought home Nolte and put courtesy runner Katie Porter in scoring position on third. Lauren Bennett hit a 2-run double on the next pitch to bring in Porter and Sirohman. Zavarelle then knocked Bennett home on a single to center to make it a 10-run inning for Louisville. 

The Leopards have now defeated the Golden Eagles in four straight meetings and have taken 13 out of the last 16 against GlenOak overall. LHS still trails the all-time series 16-21 with a 9-10 mark in he confines of Louisville.

UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards Softball Team will next host the Carrollton Warriors on Wednesday, April 3 at 5:00 PM.

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VARSITY SOFTBALL BOX SCORE

LEOPARDS 11, GOLDEN EAGLES 0, 5 INNINGS

Team 123-45–R-H-E

GlenOak 000-00–0-0-1

Louisville 0(10)0-1X–11-10-0

GLENOAK GOLDEN EAGLES SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

GLENOAK GOLDEN EAGLES SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

Records: Louisville 2-1