University of Louisville
USF
Softball Splits with USF in Conference USA Opener
March 19, 2005 | Softball
March 19, 2005
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team opened Conference USA play with a split at South Florida. The Bulls took the first game 6-2, with the Cards picking up a 3-1 win in the second.
The Bulls jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first when Christie Chapman reached on a dropped third strike and Samantha Ray walked. Carmela Liwag's single scored Chapman and Ray crossed the plate with Danielle Urbanik reached on a Louisville error to give USF a 2-0 lead. Liwag, who moved to third on the error, came home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 game.
The Cards responded in the fourth inning when Candi Hicks reached on an error and Courtney Moore followed with a two-run shot over the leftfield wall to pull within 3-2.
USF added three runs in the bottom of the sixth when Ray led off the inning with a triple and scored on Liwag's single. Krista Holle reached on a strike-three wild pitch and both runners advanced on another wild pitch to set up Tiffany Stewart's two-run double, making it a 6-2 game.
Louisville starter Catherine Bishop (7-4) took the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and striking out four in two innings. Aja Sherman entered in the game in relief in the third inning and after giving up an initial walk, retired the next eight batters until the sixth inning. Sherman finished the game allowing three runs on three hits while striking out eight in four innings. Offensively, the Cards had four hits in the game.
USF's Bree Spence picked up the win, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and striking out one in seven innings. The Bulls had four hits in the game, Liwag finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
In the nightcap, the Cardinals scored an early run when Audrey Rendon singled, took second on Moore's groundout, and came home on Lacy Wood's infield hit to make it a 1-0 game.
Louisville added two runs in the third when Candi Hicks led off with a double and scored on Rendon's double to make it a 2-0 game. Rendon took third on Moore's groundout and crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.
The Bulls got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Carly Griffin reached on an error. Kim Riker's sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Chapman singled to place runners at first and third and then stole second. Griffin came home on Ray's groundout to second to make it a 3-1 game.
USF threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Griffin drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sherman retired the next two batters for her first save of the season.
Bishop (8-4) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits and striking out six in five innings. Sherman held the Bulls scoreless and did not allow a hit and struck out three in two innings. Offensively, U of L had seven hits in the game. Totten was 2-for-2 and Rendon was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI.
Danielle Urbanik (7-5) took the loss, allowing one unearned run on two hits and striking out one in 1.1 innings. Chapman was 2-for-4 in the contest.
"I'm pleased that we responded with a win after losing the first game," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We did some things well, but made a lot of mental and physical mistakes. This team needs to start playing with the confidence and execution it takes to win games."
Louisville (13-10, 1-1) and USF 22-14, 1-1) will face off in the rubber game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
