University of Louisville
Notre Dame
Softball Falls to Notre Dame 3-2 in NCAA Regionals
May 20, 2005 | Softball
May 20, 2005
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - - The University of Louisville softball team built a 2-0 lead, but host Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to send the Cardinals to the loser's bracket in the first game of the 2005 NCAA regional Friday.
The Cards a chance to score in the top of the first. Audrey Rendon reached on a leadoff infield single and Candi Hicks and Courtney Moore walked to load the bases with no outs. Notre Dame starter Steffany Stenglein struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam.
Louisville got on the scoreboard in the second when Leslie Garland and Rendon delivered back-to-back two-out infield hits. Hicks RBI single to left field scored Garland to make it a 1-0 game.
The Cardinals struck again in the third when Wood led off with a single and came on a double by Sara Bausher to increase the lead to 2-0.
Notre Dame threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Kellie Middleton singled, stole second and took third on a Cardinal error. Megan Ciolli reached on a fielder's choice to Louisville second baseman Michelle Vasquez who gunned a throw to catcher Lacy Wood who tagged Middleton out at home.
The Cards entered the bottom of the fifth without the services of Moore, their shortstop, who left the game in the top of the inning after a collision at second base on a double play throw attempt.
U of L had yet another scoring opportunity in the sixth when Lisa Estes singled to left field and Garland and Rendon reached on infield singles to load the bases with one out. Notre Dame reliever Heather Booth struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Notre Dame's Stephanie Brown drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on Middleton's single down the right field line to put runners on first and third with no outs. Coilli's single up the middle sent Brown home to pull Notre Dame within one run. Carrie Wisen's two-run single scored Middleton and Ciolli to give Notre Dame a 3-2 lead.
Sherman (21-11) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven in six innings. Offensively, the Cards were led by Rendon's 3 for 4 performance. Garland was 2 for 3 with a run. The Cardinals had 10 hits in the game and stranded 10 runners. Louisville (42-19) will play the loser of the Northwestern/Albany game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
"We played very well today, but it came down to the fact that we weren't able to take advantage of our scoring opportunities and left too many runners on base," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Notre Dame is a very tough opponent and they played well. We hit the ball today, but their pitchers shut us down in some tight situations to help them win the game."
Notre Dame's Booth (22-7) got the win, holding the Cards scoreless on four hits and striking out nine in four innings of relief. Stenglein surrendered two runs on six hits and struck out eight in 2.2 innings of work. The two combined for 17 strikeouts in the contest. The Fighting Irish (45-13) will face the winner of the Northwestern/Albany matchup Saturday at noon.
