University of Louisville
Oklahoma<BR>(Oklahoma/Nike Classic)
Softball Splits with Fourth-Ranked Oklahoma
February 20, 2004 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2004
Norman, Okla. - - The University of Louisville softball team handed No. 4 Oklahoma its first loss of the season with 3-1 win over the Sooners Friday in the OU/Nike Classic. The Sooners won the second game of the doubleheader 8-0.
In the first game, the teams battled through five scoreless innings before Louisville's Courtney Moore led off the sixth with a double down the left field line and took third on Aja Sherman's single and Kristi Rozelle entered as a pinch runner. Lisa Estes stepped in to pinch hit and blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence.
Oklahoma answered in the bottom half of the sixth when Nicole Denes hit a two-out solo shot to make it a 3-1 game
The Sooners threatened in the bottom of the seventh when back-to-back walks and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with one out, but the Cards got the next two batters to foul out and fly out for the 3-1 win.
Louisville starter Kady Garrick (4-1) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings. Oklahoma's Denes (6-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out two in 5.1 innings.
Offensively, U of L had nine hits in the game. Lacy Wood and Aja Sherman were each 2-for-3 to lead the Cardinals. Louisville out- hit OU 9-5 in the contest.
In the second game, the Sooners got on the board in the top of the second inning when Heather Scaglione drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a Louisville error and scored on another Cardinal miscue to make it a 1-0 game.
Oklahoma added a three-spot in the fourth inning when Fox, Mariee Mena and Jessica Leslie delivered consecutive singles to load the bases. Fox crossed the plate on an illegal pitch. Mena and Leslie came home on a wild pitch to increase OU's lead to 4-0.
The Sooners added four more runs in the top of the seventh. April Valdez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on Christina Enea's single and scored on a Louisville error to make it a 5-0 game. Heather Scaglione reached on a fielder's choice to set up Jamie Fox's three-run home run giving OU the 8-0 lead.
U of L starter Catherine Bishop (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs, only one earned, on four hits in 3.1 innings. Aja Sherman allowed four runs, three earned on five hits and struck out six in 3.2 innings.
Oklahoma starter Valdez (1-0) picked up the complete game shutout, scattering three hits and striking out two.
"We are very excited about our win over fourth-ranked Oklahoma," said Sandy Pearsall. "We played a solid game and had timely hitting in the first game. In the second game, we just made too many mistakes and you can't do that against a team of Oklahoma's caliber."
Louisville (5-4) will play Sam Houston State (5-7) Saturday at 11 a.m.
Note: The win over fourth-ranked Oklahoma marks the highest-ranked team the Cardinals have beaten in the history of the program.
