University of Louisville
East Carolina
Softball Drops Two to East Carolina
April 16, 2005 | Softball
April 16, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell to host East Carolina 6-2 and 1-0 in a Conference USA doubleheader Saturday.
In the first game, Kate Manuse's solo home run gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
ECU added three more runs in the third. Ashley Quick walked to lead off the inning and moved to third when Allison Monce reached on an error. Monce took second on Krista Jessup's groundout. Mandi Nichols' two-run single sent Quick and Monce home. Manuse doubled to score Nichols, making it a 4-0 game.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Candi Hicks led off with a triple and crossed the plate on Courtney Moore's groundout.
Louisville added another run in the fifth when Sara Bausher singled and scored on Audrey Rendon's two-out triple to make the score 4-2.
East Carolina put up a run in the bottom half of the inning when Jessup was hit by a pitch and Shirley Burleson walked to start the inning. Both runners moved on Nichols' sacrifice bunt. Manuse was intentionally walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Leigh Savoy sent Jessup home to increase the Pirates' lead to 5-2.
ECU added another run in the sixth when Quick drew a walk and stole second on Monce's strikeout. Jessup's two-out single scored Quick to make it a 6-2 game.
East Carolina's Stephanie Hayes (13-1) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on eight hits. The Pirates were led offensively by Manuse, who went 2 for 2 with a home run and two RBI.
Louisville's Catherine Bishop (14-6) took the loss, allowing four runs, only one earned on three hits in three innings. Aja Sherman entered the game in the fourth inning and allowed two earned runs on one hit and struck out four. Offensively, the Cards had eight hits in the game.
In the second game, the Pirates again took a 1-0 lead when Beth Nolan hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second.
The Cards threatened in the top of the fifth when Sara Bausher led off with an infield single, Lisa Estes walked and Leslie Garland delivered a single to load the bases with one out. ECU starter Keli Harrell retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.
Louisville had another opportunity to score in the seventh as Alma Navarrete walked to lead off the inning and Rendon singled to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Harrell retired the final batter to preserve the shutout.
Harrell (23-10) picked up the win, allowing five hits and striking out eight in seven innings.
Sherman (12-9) took the loss, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out seven in three innings. Bishop did not allow a hit and struck out seven in three innings of relief. Offensively, the Cards had five hits in the game.
Louisville (26-15 (11-3 C-USA) and East Carolina (49-11, 11-3) will play game three of the series Sunday at noon.
