University of Louisville
EAST CAROLINA
Softball Sweeps East Carolina Doubleheader
April 03, 2004 | Softball
April 3, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team swept visiting East Carolina 9-0 and 5-2 Saturday in a Conference USA doubleheader at Ulmer Stadium.
In the first game, the Cards took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Michelle Vasquez singled and moved to second when Sara Bausher reached on an error to set up Courtney Moore's two-run double.
The Cardinals increased the lead to 3-0 in the second when Audrey Rendon laced a two-out triple to left field and scored on a hit by Shannon Nord.
U of L added two more runs in the third when Moore reached on a two-out hit and scored on Lisa Estes' triple. Aja Sherman's single sent Estes home to make it a 5-0 game.
The Cardinal's put up four runs in the fifth when Rendon led off with a single and took second on Nord's hit. Rendon crossed the plate on a double by Vasquez. Bausher blasted a three-run homer, her fourth of the season, to give Louisville a 9-0 lead. Bausher now hold the school record for career home runs with 15.
East Carolina's best scoring chance came in the bottom of the fifth when Mandi Nichols reached on an error, moved to second on Andiey Acosta's single and Leigh Savoy reached on an error to load the bases. Sherman, Louisville's starting pitcher struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam and maintain the shutout.
Sherman picked up her second complete-game shutout of the season, allowing four hits and striking out seven in five innings. Offensively, the Cardinals had 11 hits in the game. Rendon was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs. Moore was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI's and a run. Vasquez was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI and Nord finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
East Carolina's Brentley Bridgeforth (13-6) took the loss, allowing five runs, four of them earned, on seven hits in three innings. Acosta and Manuse were each 2-for-2, accounted for the Pirates' only hits in the contest.
In the second game, East Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Lacassa Hill singled and took second when Savoy reached on an error. Christine Sheridan doubled to score both runners.
Louisville answered in the bottom of the fourth when Bausher drew a walk to set up Estes' two-run home run, her third of the season, to tie the game.
The Cards pulled ahead in the fifth when Nord singled and scored on a double by Vasquez. Lacy Wood's double sent Vasquez home to make it a 4-2 game.
U of L added a final run in the sixth when Rendon walked, stole second and scored on a double by Nord to make the score 5-2.
Louisville starter Kady Garrick (13-4) picked up the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and striking out six in seven innings. Offensively, the Cards had 10 hits in the contest and were led by Nord, who went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Estes finished 2-for-2 with a double and a home run and two RBIs. Louisville improves to 26-10 (9-2 C-USA).
ECU's Keli Harrell (10-2) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and striking out nine in six innings. Lacassa Hill was 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base for the Pirates. East Carolina falls to 35-10-1 (4-7) on the season.
"We did a tremendous job on offense today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Again, we had people stepping up and getting the job done. The only area concerning me right now is our occasional sloppy defensive play. When we clean up that part of the game, this is a team that has a great deal of potential."
The teams will meet in the final game of the series Sunday, April 4 at noon at Ulmer Stadium.
