University of Louisville
USF
Softball Edged By South Florida, 1-0
May 13, 2004 | Softball
May 13, 2004
One run is all it took for third-seeded USF to edge No. 2 Louisville, 1-0, in game four of the C-USA Tournament on Thursday at Ulmer Stadium. The Bulls are currently ranked No. 17 in the ESPN.com/NFCA and USA Today/USA Softball coaches' polls.
USF scored the only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Carmella Liwag notched a double to left center and scored when Holly Groves reached on an error. The Bulls had nearly put up another run in the first inning when Shelly Riker tried to take two bases on a Groves single. Riker rounded third and headed for home but U of L's Sara Bausher fielded the ball and fired it home in time for the tag.
South Florida's Leigh Ann Ellis (40-4) led the shutout from the circle, striking out five and giving up no walks. Liwag led on offense, batting 3-for-3 and posting her 19th double of the season. USF improved its record to 57-10 to tie a program record for wins. The Bulls will face Houston on Friday at 4 p.m.
Louisville starting pitcher Aja Sherman (15-5) took the loss, allowing one unearned run and striking out six in seven innings. Offensively, the Cards has five hits in the game. Shannon Nord led the Cardinal charge, going 3-for-3. The shutout marked the first time the Cards have been held scoreless since Feb. 29 when they took a 4-0 loss to then-No.19 Iowa.
U of L (40-16) will battle DePaul (25-29-1) Friday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner of that contest will play the winner of Southern Miss and East Carolina at 6:30 p.m.
