Softball Set for Home Opener
February 27, 2004 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team will play its first home game of the season Saturday, Feb. 28 against Western Kentucky (6-0) at 3:00 p.m. and Toledo (0-0) at 5:00 p.m. in the Red and Black Classic. The Cards will play host to No. 19 Iowa (3-2) Saturday at noon. U of L brings an 8-5 record into its home opener.
Estes named C-USA Hitter of the Week
Lisa Estes was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week on Feb. 23. The junior from Ramona, Calif. batted .647 on the weekend at the OU/Nike Classic. Her performance was highlighted by a three-run homer that lifted the Cardinals to a 3-1 win over No. 4 Oklahoma. Estes had at least one hit in each of Louisville's six games and went 3-for-4 against Sam Houston State and North Carolina. She picked up a double and six RBI and went 11-for-17 in helping the Cards to a 4-2 tournament mark. She currently leads the team with a .483 batting average.
Recapping the OU/Nike Classic -
Cards post program's first victory over a top-five team with 3-2 win over No. 4 Oklahoma
The Cardinals posted a 4-2 record in the Oklahoma/Nike Classic Feb. 20-22. Louisville opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over host and fourth-ranked Oklahoma, handing the Sooners their first loss of the season. Lisa Estes lifted the Cards to the win with a three-run homer in the sixth inning. Kady Garrick picked up the win, allowing one earned run on five hits in seven innings. OU topped the Cards 8-0 in the nightcap.
U of L swept Sam Houston State the next day, out-powering the Bearkats 10-7 in the first game. Estes led the team offensively, batting 3-for-4 with a run. Aja Sherman was 1-for-2 with a three-run home run. Catherine Bishop picked up her first collegiate win, allowing two earned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings. Louisville edged Sam Houston 3-2 in eight innings in the second game. Audrey Rendon led the team batting 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Garrick picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on nine hits in eight innings.
The Cards closed the tournament by splitting with North Carolina. The Tarheels scored two runs in the seventh to win the first game 4-3. Louisville rebounded with a 13-3 decision in their final game of the tournament. Offensively, U of L had 14 hits and were led by Estes, who was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. The Cards lead-off slap hitter senior Shannon Nord also posted her first career home run (yes, over the fence). Garrick picked up her sixth-straight win, allowing three earned runs on three hits in seven innings.
