University of Louisville
Saint Louis
Softball Sweeps Saint Louis Doubleheader
March 17, 2004 | Softball
March 17, 2004
ST. LOUIS - - The University of Louisville softball defeated host Saint Louis 16-2 in and 6-0 Wednesday in a Conference USA doubleheader. The Cards swept the three-game series to move to 5-1 in league play.
In the first game, the Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Michelle Vasquez doubled, moved to third on a hit by Courtney Moore and scored when Lacy Wood grounded out.
The Billikens responded in the bottom of the inning when Kerri Higgins singled and advanced when Bailee Heady and Ashleigh Williams were hit by pitches to load the bases. Logan Justice grounded out to send Higgins home, tying the game at 1-1.
U of L added six runs in the second when Kristi Rozelle reached on a fielder's choice and took second when Jenn Skaggs walked. Both runners scored on Sara Bausher's two-run double to make it a 3-1 game. Shannon Nord's sacrifice bunt sent Bausher to third and she came home on a single by Vasquez. Moore blasted a two-run homer to make it a 6-1 game. Wood followed with a solo shot to increase Louisville's lead to 7-1.
In the third, Skaggs reached on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate on Bausher's two-run home run to give the Cards a 9-1 lead.
Louisville put up seven runs in the fourth which featured seven hits, including two doubles and two home runs. Wood led off the inning with her second solo shot of the game. Lisa Estes drew a walk and Rozelle followed with a two-run homer. Skaggs delivered a double and scored on Bausher's double. Nord and Vasquez delivered consecutive singles to bring Bausher home. Wood's hit sent Nord home to make it a 16-2 game.
Saint Louis scored a run in the bottom of the fifth when Adrienne May singled, took second when Heady, advanced to third when Williams reached on a dropped third strike and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 16-2.
U of L starter Aja Sherman (3-1) got the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and striking out 11 in five innings. Offensively, the Cardinals pounded out a season-high 19 hits, including five doubles and five home runs. Bausher led the team batting 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, scored three runs and drove in five. Wood was 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored and four RBIs. Vasquez finished batting 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs.
Saint Louis starter Kris Rossi (2-7) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in two innings.
In the second game, the teams battled through four scoreless innings before the Cardinals broke through with a three-run fifth. Skaggs led off the inning with a solo home run to put Louisville ahead 1-0. Nord reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored when Moore reached on an error. Wood's double brought Moore home to give the Cards a 3-0 advantage.
U of L added another run in the sixth when Rozelle singled, moved to second when Skaggs was hit by a pitch and scored on Nord's base hit to make it a 4-0 game.
The Cards put up two more runs in the seventh when Wood doubled and scored on a double by Estes who crossed the plate on a single by Rozelle for the 6-0 game.
Louisville starter Catherine Bishop (6-3) picked up the complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out three. Nord, Wood, Rozelle and Skaggs each had two hits.
"I'm really pleased with our offense today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "The team showed patience and good pitch selection, all of which led to two conference wins."
U of L (19-7, 5-1 C-USA) will play Toledo Friday at noon at Ulmer Stadium.
