University of Louisville
South Florida
No. 21 South Florida Edges Softball 3-2
April 19, 2003 | Softball
April 19, 2003
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team fell to No. 21 South Florida 3-2 Saturday at South Florida.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Shannon Nord singled to lead off the game, took second on a wild pitch. Sara Bausher drew a walk on a ball-four wild pitch, which moved Nord to third. Bausher stole second and moved to third on another wild pitch which sent Nord home. Bausher crossed the plate when Keola Calderon grounded out to give U of L a 2-0 lead.
The Bulls responded in the second inning when Christie Chapman singled to lead off the inning, took second on Renee Oursler's fielder's choice. Both runners advanced on Krista Holle's sacrifice bunt and scored on Sarah Watson's base hit. Watson and Oursler executed a double-steal to tie the game at 2-2. Watson stole third and scored on a single by Shelly Riker to give South Florida a 3-2 lead.
The Cardinals threatened to score in the sixth when Keola Calderon drew a walk and moved to third on Lisa McMillan's single, but South Florida pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis delivered a strikeout to get out of the inning. Louisville starter Jessica Rak (11-8) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits in five innings. Offensively, the Cardinals had four hits. Nord was 2-for-4 in the contest.
South Florida's Ellis picked up the win in relief, holding the Cards scoreless, striking out seven and scattering two hits in 6.1 innings. The Bulls improve to 46-12 on the season (14-3 C-USA).
Louisville (19-18, 10-7) will face intra-state rival Kentucky in a doubleheader Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
