University of Louisville
Tennessee Tech<BR>(Tennessee Tech Tournament)
Softball Defeats Tennessee Tech 4-3
February 24, 2002 | Softball
Feb. 24, 2002
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- The University of Louisville softball team edged host Tennessee Tech 4-3 in eight innings Sunday in the Tennessee Tech Softball Icebreaker Tournament
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when Lisa Estes led off with a single and moved to second on Kenzie Meisenburg's walk. Shannon Nord drew a walk to load the bases for Keola Calderon's base hit which brought in Estes to make the score 1-0. Meisenburg scored on a sacrifice fly by Jodi Thomas to give the Cards a 2-0 lead.
Tennessee Tech responded in the bottom half of the inning when Jadryen Lane led off with a walk, moved to second when Stephanie Dallman hit into a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a Louisville error in the same play. She scored when LeeAnn Mongar hit into a fielder's choice to make the score 2-1. Kacy Bennett's two-run double gave the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Meisenburg led off with an infield hit, moved to second on Nord's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Calderon's RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Cardinals survived a scare in the bottom of the seventh inning when Dana Yates reached on a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dallman, and advanced to third on a single by Marianne Novac. Mongar was intentionally walked to load the bases. Smith was thrown out at home when Amy Goad hit into a fielder's choice and Louisville reliever Jessica Rak struck out Bennett to end the seventh and move to extra innings.
U of L scored the winning run in the top of the eighth when Thomas, who began the inning on second in accordance to international tiebreaker rules, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Aja Sherman. Nicole Sparks' double scored Thomas and gave the Cardinals the 4-3 win.
Offensively, Louisville had nine hits. Calderon led the Cards going four-for-four with a double and two RBI. Rak (4-4) got the win, and held the Golden Eagle scoreless in five innings allowing three hits and striking out three.
Louisville (4-8) will travel to Richmond, Ky. to play Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.
