University of Louisville
Charlotte
Charlotte Edges Softball 6-5 in Eight Innings
March 21, 2003 | Softball
March 21, 2003
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The University of Louisville softball team fell to host Charlotte 6-5 in eight innings Friday in Conference USA action.
Charlotte jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second when Autumn Lawson drew a leadoff walk to set up Denise Atmar's two-run homer. Sam Moore followed with a solo shot to give the 49ers a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals responded in the top of the third inning when Kristi Rozelle led off with a single, moved to third on Aja Sherman's double and scored on a hit by Michelle Vasquez and Lisa Estes' single brought Sherman home to pull U of L within one run at 3-2.
A three-run fourth gave Louisville 5-3 lead. Nicole Sparks led off with a double, took third on Rozelle's sacrifice bunt and scored on Aja Sherman's single to tie the game at 3-3. Nord reached on an error. A base hit by Estes scored Sherman and another Charlotte error allowed Nord to cross the plate, making it a 5-3 game.
The 49ers tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Karianne Huffstetler led off with a single and moved to second on Kristy Constantino's bunt to set up Melanie Thevenote's two-run single to make the score 5-5 and send the game into extra innings.
Louisville had a chance to score in the eighth when Nord blasted a triple, but was thrown out as she tried to come home on Estes' suicide squeeze.
Charlotte's winning run came in the eighth when Moore led off with a double, moved to second on Shannon Carson's ground out and scored on a wild pitch for the 6-5 game.
Louisville reliever Krystle Herold (0-5) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out four in 5.2 innings. Offensively, the Cardinals finished with 13 hits: Nord, Estes, Bausher, Sparks and Sherman each had two hits.
Charlotte reliever Dana Bowers (4-3) picked up the win, shutting the Cardinals out and giving up five hits in four innings. The 49ers had nine hits. Moore went 3-for-4 in the game. Charlotte improves to 12-11 (3-2 C-USA).
Louisville (8-11, 1-1) will play C-USA opponent East Carolina Saturday at 1 p.m. in Greenville, N.C.
