University of Louisville
South Carolina<BR>(Seminole Challenge)
Softball Falls to No. 22 South Carolina
February 08, 2002 | Softball
Feb. 8, 2002
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team fell victim to a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning as No. 22 South Carolina defeated the Cardinals 3-2 in the Florida State Seminole Challenge on Friday.
The Gamecocks got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Kim Evans reached on a Louisville error and scored on Jodi Fittro's single. Fittro scored on Aleca Johnson's base hit to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead.
Louisville pulled within one in the fourth inning when junior Keola Calderon reached on a two--base error and scored on a single by freshman Lisa Estes to make the score 2-1.
The Cards tied the game in the fifth inning when sophomore Kristi Rozelle led off with double, advanced to third on freshman Sara Bausher's base hit and scored on sophomore Shannon Nord's single down the left field line to make the score 2-2.
With the game still tied in the bottom of the seventh, Amber Curtis led off with a home run to give the Gamecocks the 3-2 win. South Carolina opens the season with the win.
"For our first game of the season, we played well," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We did some nice things defensively and hit better than expected against a top notch pitcher. The game just came down to one pitch."
Louisville starter junior Jessica Rak (0-1) gave up three runs, one earned on five hits and struck out one. Nord finished the game with two hits and an RBI.
The Cardinals (0-1) will play No. 9 Washington 3:00 p.m. and tournament host No. 15 Florida State at 5:00 p.m.
