UofL defeated the Hilltoppers 1-0 in eight innings in the opening game before No. 1 Michigan earned a 2-0 victory. WKU (14-12) concludes pool play at 9 a.m. (CST) against Sun Belt Conference foe Middle Tennessee, and will play one other contest in the championship round to close out its final tournament of the regular season.
Aja Sherman (6-6) no-hit the Hilltoppers in their first game, striking out 15 while allowing just two baserunners — Alana Towns walked with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning while Bailey Rolfs reached on a one-out error in the sixth.
She outdueled Adrienne Lathrop (7-4), who surrendered an unearned run in the eighth after giving up six hits and two walks. The right-hander fanned six while pitching out of trouble in five of seven innings in regulation. The Cardinals had runners in scoring position with less than two outs on three occasions, including putting two on with one out in the top of the first and a runner on second with one down in the fifth and sixth. Jen Ballance threw out Jenn Skaggs at home plate in the fifth after a single to rightfield by Candi Hicks to keep the game scoreless.
UofL (16-10) broke the scoreless tie in the top of the eighth inning when Sara Bauscher — who started the frame on second base with the international tiebreaker rule in effect — moved to third on a wild pitch before crossing the plate after Audrey Rendon reached on a fielder’s choice.
Hicks, Courtney Moore, Rendon and Skaggs had the Cardinals’ four hits.
The Wolverines (28-1), winners of 28 straight contests, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out solo home run from Jessica Merchant, doubling their advantage in the fourth when Merchant homered for the second time to lead off the frame. She finished 2-for-2 after drawing a walk in her final at bat in the fifth.
Alessandra Giampolo, Tiffany Haas and Nicole Motycka each had a hit for UM.
Jennie Ritter improved to 13-0 with a two-hit shutout, allowing one walk while striking out 13. Sam Young ended Ritter’s no-hit bid with a two-out single in the top of the fourth inning, and Rolfs later added a single to lead off the sixth for the Toppers.
Ashley Schwartz fell to 3-5 despite giving up four hits in 4.0 innings of work. She struck out one without issuing a free pass. Lathrop threw the final 2.0 innings, surrendering a hit and a walk to go along with one strikeout.
