University of Louisville
Southern Miss
Softball Falls to Southern Miss 3-2
May 09, 2004 | Softball
May 9, 2004
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - - The University of Louisville softball team lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to host Southern Miss Sunday as the Lady Eagles completed a three-game Conference USA sweep.
Southern Miss took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jessica Huerta drew a walk, stole second and came home on a single by Sarah Boyd.
The Cardinals threatened in the top of the second when Lisa Estes was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Courtney Moore and Aja Sherman delivered back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. USM starter Jessica Holaway retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
In the third, Louisville's Sara Bausher singled. Wood followed with a base hit to place runners on first and second to set up Moore's two-out RBI single, tying the game at 1-1.
The Lady Eagles pulled ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Charity Butler singled, moved to second on Heather Bell's sacrifice bunt, took third when Ashley Brenan beat the throw on an infield hit and scored on a single by Huerta.
The Cards tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth when Moore delivered a one-out double. Audrey Rendon entered the game as a pinch-runner and crossed the plate on a single by Sherman.
Southern Miss took a 3-2 lead on Auriel Jenkins' solo shot in the home half of the inning.
Sherman (15-5) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on five hits and striking out four in seven innings. The Cardinals had eight hits in the contest. Moore was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sherman was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Bausher was 2-for-4 with a run.
Holaway (17-5) got the complete game win, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out five. The Lady Eagles (32-22, 19-4 C-USA) earned the top seed in the C-USA Softball Tournament. They will play the winner of fourth-seeded DePaul and fifth seeded Houston Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
"I'm proud of our team's aggressive play," said Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We you face a team like Southern Miss, you can't play from behind and expect to win. They are a good team and they used their power hitting against us. We hit the ball well, which is something we've been struggling with. We hope to build on that strength as we head into the conference tournament. I feel this young team will challenge anybody they face."
U of L (40-15, 19-5) earned a No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Cardinals will play the winner of No. 3 South Florida and No. 6 East Carolina Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Louisville will serve as the host for the 2004 C-USA Softball Tournament May 13-15 at Ulmer Stadium.
