University of Louisville
East Carolina
Softball falls to East Carolina 5-3
March 14, 2002 | Softball
March 14, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team built an early 3-0 lead, but East Carolina scored four in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to beat the Cardinals 5-3 in a Conference USA matchup Thursday at Ulmer Stadium.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the fourth when Melissa Jacobo led off the inning with a single, moved to third when Nicole Sparks reached on a two-base error and scored on a single by Lisa Estes. Aja Sherman's two-run double down the left field line drove in Sparks and Estes to give Louisville a 3-0 lead.
U of L held the lead until the top of the sixth inning when East Carolina's Angela Manzo led off with a base hit, moved to second on Stacey Smith's single and Kristin Johnson reached on an error to load the bases. Beth Bridger's single brought in Manzo to make the score 3-1. Brandi Benedict drew a bases-loaded walk to pull the Pirates within one run. Amber Gill's two-run single pushed across Kate Manuse, who had reached on a walk, and Benedict to give ECU a 4-3 lead.
The Pirates added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Manzo reached on a walk, moved to second on Smith's sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on Bridger's RBI single to make the score 5-3.
Louisville starter Jessica Rak (10-6) took the loss, allowing five runs, two of them earned on seven hits and striking out seven batters in seven innings. Sherman finished the game with a double and two RBI.
East Carolina reliever Nicole Bacon (10-6) got the win as she held the Cards scoreless and allowed two hits and struck out 10 - at one point, eight consecutive batters - in 5.2 innings. The Pirates improve to 16-8 (2-1).
U of L (11-13, 1-2) will travel to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio University on Saturday, March 16.
East Carolina 5 7 2Louisville 3 5 3
