University of Louisville
Depaul
Sparks Ignites Softball in Win Over No. 12 DePaul
April 28, 2001 | Softball
April 28, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team lost to twelfth-ranked DePaul 4-2 and then defeated the Blue Demons 5-1 in the second game of the doubleheader Saturday at Ulmer Stadium.
In the first game, DePaul took advantage of a hit and three Cardinal errors to score two runs in the first inning. The Blue Demons added to their lead in the third inning when Sarah Martz double to left center, moved to third on a passed ball and crossed the plate when Shavaughne Desecki grounded out to make the score 3-0. DePaul added their final run in the fourth when Katy Kukman reached safely on a Louisville error, moved to second on a Louisville wild pitch and scored on Sarah Douglas' RBI single.
Down 4-0 in the seventh inning, the Card rallied for two runs when Candy Padilla doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on Nikki Gaudio's single and Val Smith walked to load the bases. A DePaul error scored Padilla and Amber Jolley, who had entered the game as a pinch runner for Gaudio to pull the Cards within two. With two outs and runners on first and second, Louisville could not capitalize to score.
Louisville starter Tara McClure (17-8) took the loss, allowing four runs, one earned, on four hits and striking out two in 3.1 innings pitched. DePaul's Martz (22-6) got the win, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits and striking out four in 6.2 innings pitched. Lindsay Chouinard retired one batter to pick up her second save.
Offensively, Melissa Jacobo led the Cards going two-for-three with a double. Coleen Coughlin finished the game batting two-for-four.
In the nightcap, DePaul scored early in the first inning, when Martz singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on Liz Bouck's sacrifice bunt and scored when Gina Ramacci reached safely on a Louisville error to give the Blue Demon's a 1-0 lead.
Louisville responded in the home half of the first when Kenzie Meisenburg singled to reach first, stole second, and came home on Jacobo's RBI single to tie the game.
With the score knotted at one in the sixth, Jacobo led off by reaching safely on an error, and moved to second on Padilla's single. Nicole Sparks two-run triple down the right-field line scored Jacobo and Padilla, giving the Cards a 3-1 edge. Val Smith then drew a walk, moved to second when Coughlin reached safely on a DePaul error which allowed Sparks to score. Kenzie Meisenburg's single loaded the bases and Keola Calderon's bases-loaded walk brought Smith home to give the Cards the 5-1 lead.
Louisville starter Mandy Rockwell (7-4) got the complete game win, allowing one unearned run on six hits in seven innings pitched. DePaul's Chouinard took the loss, allowing five runs, two of them earned, on nine hits and striking out one in six innings pitched.
Offensively, Louisville was led by Meisenburg who finished the game three-for-four with a run scored and a stolen base. Sparks went two-for-three with the game-winning triple, two RBI and two runs scored.
With this win, Louisville surpasses its inaugural season win total with a record of 37-20 (12-5, C-USA). DePaul falls to 41-12-1 (14-2, C-USA).
The teams will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium for the rubber game.
