University of Louisville
UAB
Softball Burns Blazers in Doubleheader
April 21, 2001 | Softball
April 21, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- First baseman Nikki Gaudio had three RBIs on two hits including a double, to lead the University of Louisville to a sweep of the UAB Blazers in Conference USA softball action at Ulmer Stadium.
U of L won the first game 3-1 and overcame a five-run Blazer lead to win the second game 7-6.
The Cardinals, 34-17, improve their conference mark to 10-4. The Blazers fall to 22-28 and 6-8 in the league.
"Every conference win is crucial," said Sandy Pearsall, U of L head coach. "And not giving up after trailing by five runs shows me that the team is digging in and fighting for our goals."
The Cardinals fell behind in the first game by a run when third baseman Candice Hithe scored on an error by Louisville in the sixth. UAB, plagued by six errors on the day, allowed the Cardinals to post a-three-spot in the bottom of the same inning. Candi Padilla drew a walk with the bases loaded to tie before Gaudio and McMillan each had RBI singles.
Starter Tara McClure struck out two, walked two and gave up just five hits to earn her 16th victory of the season in 21 decisions. She allowed just one run which was unearned for the win. UAB's Kerri Foster was tagged with the loss despite giving up just one earned run.
Coleen Coughlin led the Cardinals with two hits, including a triple.
In the second game, Louisville starter Jessica Rak never got out of the gate and got stung by a five -run second inning. She allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits in one and two-thirds inning. Mandy Rockwell came in relief and struck out six in five and a third innings and got the win to raise her record to 6-3.
After falling behind 5-0, the Cardinals answered with a single run in the bottom of the second when Padilla led off with a single and scored Gaudio's double.
"Thank goodness Mandy came to play today, or we would have been in a jam, " said Pearsall. "She hung in there and we got the offense going behind her."
Louisville exploded for six runs in the third inning sparked by a lead-off triple by Keola Calderon. Starting UAB pitcher Kelli Thompson then hit two batters in a row to load the bases. Padilla drew a walk to score Calderon, and opened the flood gates. Five runs and two pitchers later, the Cardinals had a two-run lead.
The Blazers managed a brief rally in the top of the sixth scoring on an RBI single by Lucy Brown but left the bases loaded and did not score again.
The Cardinals were led by Calderon's two for four outing including a run and an RBI. Kenzie Meisenburg and Padilla were the other Cardinals with two hits apiece.
UAB 000 001 0 - 1 5 4 Louisville 000 003 x - 3 6 1
Foster and Ellis. McClure and McMillan. W -- McClure 16-5. L -- Foster 11-11. 2B - Jacobo (L). 3B - Coughlin.
UAB 050 001 0 - 6 9 2 Louisville 016 000 x - 7 9 2
Thompson, Wyatt (3), Foster (3) and Ellis. Rak, Rockwell (2) and McMillan. 2B -- Padilla (L), Gaudio (L). 3B - Calderon. HR - Paul (A).
