Lady Leps Rock Red Riders 15-0 in Scrimmage
Louisville 15, Orrville 0
The Lady Leopards pounded out 15 hits and only gave up 1 during a 15-0 seven inning home scrimmage victory against the Orrville Red Riders Saturday afternoon. In the circle, Brittany Flanigan & Gianna Falcone combined for 11 strikeouts. At the plate, Emily Isla & Katie Cozy went a combined 6 for 7 and scored 6 runs to lead the Leps.
Things started shaky for the three-time defending NBC Champions, but as soon as the butterflies evaporated the Lady Leps picked up right where they left off last season. A pair of Louisville errors helped the Red Riders load the bases in the first inning. However, Flanigan ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, struck out the side in the second inning, and K-ed up the lead-off hitter in the third inning to give her 6 straight strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Lady Leps offense started rolling from the opening inning. Isla and Cozy each hit singles to start the Leopards machine. Then Chandler Rice doubled to right-center to bring home Isla and putting Louisville on the board. After that, both Jordan Monnot and Annie Woolf each picked up an RBI in consecutive at-bats to put the Leps up 3-0 after one.
In the second inning, the second half of the Leopards lineup used their speed to create havoc for Orrville. Carlee Baumgardner drew a walk and then stole second. Shelby Swigert then grounded out to advance Baumgardner to third before she stole home on a wild pitch.
Amy Hoover and Brooke Cox both copied Baumgardner by earning free passes and both advanced to second via steals as well. Following that, both players eventually scored courtesy of RBI singles by Falcone and Flanigan. Later on in the inning Cozy doubled to left bringing home Flanigan to put the Lady Leps comfortably ahead at 7-0.
Things quieted down until the bottom of the fourth when Hoover once again became a bandit on the base-paths. After an infield single, Hoover advanced from first to third through two stolen bases. Hoover would go on to steal 4 of the Lady Leps 7 stolen bases on the afternoon. Falcone singled to center to drive in Hoover two batters later to put Louisville ahead 8-0.
All 11 Lady Leopard batters made a plate appearance in the fifth inning. Isla walked and Cozy & Rice reached first base on Orrville errors to load the bases. Louisville then scored one one run in each of the next five at-bats as Monnot,Woolf, Baumgardner, Swigert, and Hoover all drove in a run.
In a regular game the mercy rule would have taken effect, but the two squads played a full seven innings. The Leopards tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth inning when Isla and Cozy led off with back-to-back doubles. Later, Cozy would score after a check down throw to third rolled in left field. The Senior catcher, Isla, finished the night a perfect 3-for-3, reached based all 4 times, and scored 3 runs. The Freshman shortstop, Cozy, finished her varsity debut by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, 2 RBI’s, and 3 runs scored.
The Leopards line-up was dangerous from top to bottom, but perhaps even more lethal was the pitching combination of Flanigan and Falcone. Flanigan struck out 6 and did not allow a single hit through 3 innings. In her relief, Falcone retired 12 of the 13 batters she faced, allowed just one hit, and struck out 5.
The most highly anticipated season in Lady Leopards softball history will officially begin next Saturday as they begin their quest for their fourth straight NBC Title and a deep tournament run.
Box Score
Flanigan 1-4 | Single, R
Isla 3-3 | 2B, 1B (2), BB, R (3)
Cozy 3-4 | 2B (2), 1B, R (3), RBI (2)
Rice 1-4 | 2B, R, RBI
Monnot 0-4 | R, RBI (2)
Woolf 2-4 | 2B, 1B, R (2), RBI (2)
Baumgardner 0-3 | BB, SB, R (2), RBI
Swigert 1-4 | 1B
Hoover 1-2 | 1B, BB (2), SB (4), R (2), RBI
Cox 1-3 | 1B, BB, SB, R
Falcone 2-3 | 1B (2), SB
Team 123-456-7–R-H-E
Orrville 000-000-0–0-1-3
Louisville 340-152-0–15-15-2
JV at Orrville: Louisville 8, Orrville 3
NEXT UP: The Lady Leps will nex travel to Kent State University for another scrimmage at 5:45 PM. The will open the regular season in a home in a double header against the GlenOak Golden Eagles on Saturday, March 24 at 12:00 PM.