DePaul Slips Past Louisville, 2-1
May 11, 2001 | Softball
May 11, 2001
LOUISVILLE - While the first day of the Conference USA Tournament, presented by U of L Health Care, featured four shutouts, the second day has featured a pair of one-run games. DePaul second baseman Katy Kukman clubbed a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead top seed DePaul (49-13-1) to a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Louisville on Friday afternoon. The Blue Demons' win advanced them to a 6:30 p.m. game with second-seeded Southern Miss. The winner of that game earns a bid to Saturday's 2 p.m. championship game. The Cardinals have short break before returning to play eighth-seeded Charlotte today at 4:30.
DePaul lefthander Lindsay Chouinard (24-7) went the distance, allowing eight hits and striking out five. However, Louisville was unable to capitalize on these opportunities, stranding 10 baserunners. Centerfielder Colleen Coughlin and catcher Lisa McMillan each had a pair of hits.
Mandy Rockwell (7-8) held DePaul without a hit through the first 4 2/3 innings. Chouinard drew a 2-0 walk before Kukman hit her third home run of the season to left field.
Louisville answered with a run in the sixth. Candi Padilla singled and advanced to second on a base hit by first baseman Nikki Gaudio. Shortstop Christi Rozelle then reached base via a Chouinard throwing error, scoring Padilla with an unearned run. However, a McMillan groundout closed the inning. The Cardinals threatened again in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs before Padilla flew out to center to end the game.
R H ELOU 000 001 0 1 8 1USF 000 020 2 3 2
WP: Chouinard (24-7)LP: Rockwell (7-8)HR: KukmanCS: C. DouglasSH: Sparks
