University of Louisville
Florida
U of L Splits at Clearwater Invitational
February 04, 2005 | Softball
Feb. 4, 2005
Florida Box Score | FAU Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team opened the season with a 3-2 loss to Florida and a 7-1 win over Florida Atlantic Friday in the Clearwater Invitational.
In the opening game, the Gators jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Melissa Zick reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Kristen Butler drew a walk and Lindsey Cameron reached safely on a fielder's choice to load the bases. A Louisville error sent Zick home to give Florida a 1-0 lead. Butler scored on a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 game.
The Cardinals responded in the fourth when Candi Hicks led off the inning with a double and Sara Bausher's two run homer tied the score at 2-2.
Florida regained the lead in the fifth when Lindsay Norfleet led off the inning with a base hit. Shelley Stevens singled to left field and took second when Candi Hicks threw Norfleet out at home. Zick followed with a single to send Stevens home, making the score 3-2.
Louisville had a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth when Bausher walked to start the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Lacy Wood singled and moved to second on the throw and Courtney Moore walked to load the bases with two outs. Florida starting pitcher Stacie Stevens retired the next batter to end the inning.
The Cards threatened one last time in the top of the seventh when Audrey Rendon sent a two-out triple to deep right field and was thrown out at home to end the game.
U of L starting pitcher Aja Sherman (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs, only one earned, on four hits and striking out three in six innings. Offensively Louisville had five hits in the contest. Hicks finished the game batting 2-for-3 with a triple and a run. Bausher was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI.
Florida's Stevens (1-0) got the win, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out four in seven innings. The Gators improve to 3-0.
In the second game, Florida Atlantic took an early 1-0 lead when Melissa Moore singled, moved to second on a groundout by Pam Mazzarella and scored on a Cardinal error in the first inning.
Louisville's Candi Hicks blasted a solo home run to tie the game in the top of the second.
The Cards added two more runs in the second when Moore walked and took second on a single by Jenn Skaggs. Michelle Vasquez's two-run double made it a 3-1 game.
Moore led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple and Vasquez's two-run homer gave the Cards a 5-1 lead.
Moore led off the sixth with a base hit. Singles by Lisa Estes and Jenn Skaggs loaded the bases for Vasquez who singled in Estes to give the Cards a 6-0 lead. Audrey Rendon's sacrifice fly sent Skaggs home to make it a 7-1.
Louisville starter Catherine Bishop (1-0) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on six hits and striking out eight in seven innings.
Offensively, the Cardinals had 10 hits in the contest. Vasquez was 3-for-3 with a double, a run and five RBI. Moore was 2-for-2 with a triple and three runs scored.
"If you take away the first inning in first game, our team played well for our first games out this season," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We were aggressive hitting the ball and played great defense. This was a good sign of what this team is capable of doing throughout the season. In the second game we were definitely a more relaxed team. We had tremendous offense and steady defense combined with a good pitching performance from Catherine Bishop. One of the things I am most pleased with is that we had different players pick up their games in different areas and that will help us be successful this year."
U of L (1-1) will face fourth-ranked Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. and Appalachian State at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
