University of Louisville
HOUSTON
Softball Tops Houston 7-5
May 01, 2005 | Softball
May. 1, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team celebrated senior day with a 7-5 win over visiting Houston, completing the Conference USA series sweep Sunday at Ulmer Stadium.
The Cougars jumped to an early 1-0 lead when Kim Nesloney drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Kristen Glowacz.
The Cards responded in the bottom of the second when Lacy Wood led off with a triple and came home on Michelle Vasquez's single to tie the game at 1-1. Vasquez took second on Sara Bausher's base hit and scored on a single by Leslie Garland to give Louisville a 2-1 lead.
Houston threatened in the fourth when Michelle Keith drew a two-out walk. Dru Daniels followed with a single and both players advanced on the throw to place runners at second and third. Louisville starter Aja Sherman struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Cards put up a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth when Bausher walked to lead off the inning and took second when Sarah Totten reached on a fielder's choice. Leslie Garland's fly out to right moved the runners for Audrey Rendon who belted out her first career home run to give Louisville a 5-1 lead. Candi Hicks was hit by a pitch and scored on Courtney Moore's double to increase the lead to 6-1. Moore took third on Wood's single and crossed the plate on a Cougar error to make it a 7-1 game.
Louisville had an opportunity to score again in the sixth when Garland led off with a single and Rendon and Moore both walked to load the bases with one out. Houston reliever Crystal Briscoe retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Houston scored four runs in the top of the seventh when Brooke Johnson singled and Nesloney and Glowacz walked to load the bases with two outs for Jenilee Skender's grand slam to make it a 7-5 game.
Louisville's Sherman (18-9) picked up the win, allowing five earned runs on four hits and striking 12. Offensively, the Cards had 10 hits with Wood leading the way batting 3 for 4 with a home run. Rendon was 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI. Garland also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Houston's Carla Kennimer (9-6) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. The Cougars had fourhits in the contest. Skender was 1 for 3 with a home run and RBI. UH falls to 26-26 (9-12 C-USA).
"I was happy that our seniors were able to get a win in their last home game," said Sandy Pearsall. "I was also pleased with how well we hit the ball today. I thought Aja pitched a good game today - we knew she was running out of steam at the end, but had confidence that she could get the complete game on senior day."
U of L (36-16, 17-4 C-USA) will travel to Evansville on Wednesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. (Eastern). The Cardinals are currently second in league standings and will travel to first place DePaul (33-14, 19-2) to close out the regular season. The Cards will need to sweep the three-game series against the Blue Demons to clinch the regular season title.
