University of Louisville
UAB
Softball Splits UAB Doubleheader
March 27, 2004 | Softball
March 27, 2004
BIRMINGHAM - The University of Louisville softball team split a doubleheader with UAB, losing the first game 2-1 and winning the second 4-3 Saturday in a Conference USA matchup.
In the first game, the teams battled through five scoreless innings before the Cardinals broke the tie in the sixth. Shannon Nord led off with a single and moved to second when Audrey Rendon reached safely on a bunt. A sacrifice bunt by Candi Hicks advanced the runners and Nord came home on Courtney Moore's sacrifice fly to give U of L a 1-0 lead.
The Blazers answered in the bottom of the seventh when Nicole Whitlock singled and Lindsay Stanley entered the game as a pinch runner. Dusti Roberts and Sara Christophel drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Chelsea McCall delivered a single to score Stanley and Roberts, giving UAB the 2-1 win.
Louisville starter Kady Garrick (12-4) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and striking out five in 6.1 innings. Offensively, the Cardinals had five hits in the contest.
UAB starter Tara Higashino (8-10) got the complete game win, allowing one earned run on five hits.
In the second game, the Blazers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Sara Christophel and Chelsea McCall recorded back-to-back singles. Christophel crossed the plate when Beth Mullins reached on an error. Holly Krzan walked to load the bases. A single by Amanda Ellis brought McCall home to make it a 2-0 game. Louisville's Aja Sherman entered the game with relief with the bases loaded and no outs and struck out the next two batters. UAB's Nicole Whitlock drew a bases-loaded walk to score Mullins and give the Blazers a 3-0 lead. Sherman struck out Roberts to end the inning.
The Cardinals responded in the top of the third when Michelle Vasquez and Shannon Nord delivered consecutive hits and Audrey Rendon walked to load the bases for Lacy Wood's two-run single to pull U of L within one run.
Louisville scored two runs in the top of the sixth. Sara Bausher was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Lisa Estes reached on a fielder's choice to set up Sherman's two-run double down the left field line to give the Cardinals the 4-3 win.
Sherman picked up the win, holding the Blazers score when less, allowing only one hit and striking out eight batters in seven innings. Offensively, U of L had six hits in the game. Vasquez was 3-for-3 with a run. Sherman was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
UAB's Erica Mascarenas (6-8) took the loss in relief, allowing four earned runs on six hits and striking out two in five innings. The Blazers move to 16-19 (3-5 C-USA).
"I was pleased with how we played defensively," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Every team goes through times when their hitting flattens out a bit, and we certainly are experiencing that right now. Our pitching is struggling, but Aja Sherman was very solid for us today on the mound."
U of L (23-10, 6-2 C-USA) will play the Blazers Sunday at 1 pm in the deciding game.
