University of Louisville
DePaul<BR>(Conference USA Tourn.)
Fourth-ranked DePaul Tops Softball
May 08, 2003 | Softball
May 8, 2003
HOUSTON - - Top seeded and fourth-ranked DePaul defeated the University of Louisville 10-2 Thursday in the Conference USA Softball Tournament.
The Blue Demons got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Lindsay Chouinard and Sarah Douglas drew back-to-back walks and Gina Ramacci's fielder's choice loaded the bases. Pinch-runner Sara Bandawski scored when Dana Kenney reached on a fielder's choice. A single by Christina Douglas brought Ramacci home to make it a 2-0 game.
Chouinard's solo shot in the third inning gave DePaul a 3-0 lead..
The Cardinals pulled within one run in the fourth when Nicole Sparks led off with an infield single and took second on a wild pitch. Sara Bausher was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for Lisa Estes' two-run double, making it a 3-2 game.
DePaul responded in the bottom half of the inning when Ramacci led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Laura Visin who moved to third when Dana Kenney reached on a Cardinal error and crossed the plate on Liz Bouck's base hit. Kenney scored on a sacrifice hit off the bat of Sarah Martz. Bouck stole third and came home on a Louisville error on the play to make it a 6-2 game.
The Blue Demons added another run in the sixth when Sarah Douglas was hit by a pitch. Bandawski, pinch-running for Douglas, moved to second when Ramacci reached on a fielder's choice, took third when Kenney grounded out and scored on a passed ball to give DePaul a 7-2 lead.
The Blue Demons capped off the scoring with three more runs in the sixth as Bouck led off with a single and scored on a double by Martz. Saskia Roberson's two-run homer in the sixth made it a 10-2 game.
"We allowed them to have too many opportunities," said U of L coach Sandy Pearsall. "We shot ourselves in the foot and made costly mistakes on the field and offensively. You can't do that against a team like DePaul."
Louisville starter Jessica Rak (12-12) took the loss, allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on eight hits in five innings.
DePaul's Chouinard (29-4) picked up the win, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out 10 in six innings. The Blue Demons improve to 44-5-1 on the season.
U of L (22-25) will play sixth-seeded UAB Friday at 1:00 p.m.
