University of Louisville
MINNESOTA
Softball Edges Minnesota 3-2
February 27, 2005 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team defeated visiting Minnesota 3-2 Sunday in the final game of the Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic.
In the second inning, Lacy Wood led off with a solo homerun putting the Cards on top 1-0. Louisville threatened to increase their lead with two back-to-back singles by Michelle Vasquez and Amy Summers. Minnesota's starting pitcher, Lyn Peyer, retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The Cards added to their lead in the bottom of the third when Audrey Rendon tripled and then scored on Courtney Moore's home run making it a 3-0 game.
The Golden Gophers put a run on the board in the top of the fourth when Rachel Keeney led off with a walk. Rene Konderik hit into a fielder's choice and Keeney was safe at second on a Louisville throwing error. Stefanie Watt entered the game to pinch-run for Konderik. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Valerie Alston hit into another fielder's choice placing runners at first and third and Watt crossed the plate on a ball-four wild pitch to Melissa Murnane.
In the top of the fifth, Minnesota added another run. Lindsey Erickson reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Higginbotham reached on a Louisville fielding error to make it a 3-2 game.
The Cards had one more opportunity to score in the sixth when Sara Bausher delivered a two-out single. Candi Hicks and Rendon followed with two more hits to load the bases, but Minnesota reliever Katie Dalen retired the next batter to end the threat.
Louisville starting pitcher, Aja Sherman (4-5), picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit and striking out two in four innings. Catherine Bishop picked up her first save of the season. She did not surrender a hit and gave up one unearned run while striking out two in three innings. Offensively, the Cards had nine hits in the contest. Rendon batted 2-for-4 with a triple and one run scored. Hicks also went 2-for-4 in the game.
Minnesota's Lyn Peyer (4-3) took the loss allowing two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. Dalen gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out four in 3.2 innings of relief. Murnane had the Gophers' only hit of the game.
"It has been a difficult weekend. We've done a lot of things well, but haven't been able to put them together," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Today, despite one inning, the team came out and played great. It was good to see our pitching staff bear down when they needed to and I'm very pleased with the power of our offense."
The Cardinals (10-7) will travel to Lexington to play Kentucky in a single game on March 8 at 4:00 p.m.
Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic ResultsDay 1Louisville 5, Ball State 0Missouri 4, Louisville 0Minnesota 6, Missouri 5 (8 innings)
Day 2Iowa 3, Minnesota 0Iowa 5, Louisville 3Missouri 13, Ball State 1 (5 innings)Minnesota 8, Ball State 0 (5 innings)
SundayMissouri 3, Iowa 1 (8 innings)Iowa 8, Ball State 0 (6 innings)Louisville 3, Minnesota 2
Final StandingsIowa - 3-1Missouri - 3-1Minnesota - 2-2Louisville - 2-2Ball State - 0-4
