The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisville
Louisville Sweeps Doubleheader From UAB Softball
4/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville (35-17, 10-4 Conference USA) swept a doubleheader from UAB (22-28, 6-8 C-USA) in Conference USA softball action at Ulmer Stadium, winning the first game 3-1 and taking the second contest 7-6.
In game one, UAB broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and third, right fielder Lucy Bass reached first on a throwing error by shortstop Val Smith, allowing third baseman Candice Hithe to score from third.
Louisville answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kerri Foster walked right fielder Keola Calderon to start the inning. Third baseman Melissa Jacobo followed with a double to center field, advancing Calderon to third. Kristi Rozelle came on to pinch run for Jacobo. Second baseman Nicole Sparks then reached first on a fielding error by shortstop Beth Mullins. With the bases loaded, Foster walked left fielder Candi Padilla, allowing Calderon to score and tie the game at one apiece. First baseman Nikki Gaudio followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Rozelle to score. On the same play, Sparks advanced to third on a throwing error by center fielder Cliffanie Engram, who was trying to make a play on Jacobo at home. Catcher Lisa McMillan then singled to the right side, bringing in Sparks.
Tara McClure (16-5) went the distance for the Cardinals, pitching seven innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out two. Foster (11-11) also had a complete game for UAB, working six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.
The Blazers committed four total errors to the Cardinals' one.
The Blazers jumped on top in the second game, exploding for five runs in the top of the second inning. Designated player Kai Paul hit her first home run of the year, a three-run blast to left field, scoring right fielder Lucy Bass and shortstop Beth Mullins. First baseman Jessica Smith followed with a single to right field and advanced to third on an error by Calderon. Hithe then reached first on an error by Jacobo. Hithe proceeded to steal second. Left fielder Jessica Brown then singled in Smith and Hithe.
In the bottom of the second, Gaudio doubled to left center, scoring Padilla, to put the Cardinals on the board.
The Cardinals break out inning came in the bottom of the third. After giving up a triple to Calderon and hitting both Jacobo and Sparks, Mandie Wyatt came on in relief of Kelli Thompson. Wyatt walked Padilla, allowing Calderon to score. Gaudio then reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Jacobo. McMillan followed with a single to the right side, which scored Sparks. Foster then came on in relief of Wyatt. Smith reached on a fielding error by second baseman Adrienne Guilbeau. Foster then walked center fielder Coleen Coughlin, scoring Gaudio. Calderon reached on a fielder's choice in her second at bat of the inning, scoring McMillan. Smith was then able to score on a throwing error by catcher Amanda Ellis on an attempted pickoff play.
The Blazers got one run in the top of the sixth inning when Brown singled in Foster for her third RBI of the game.
Mandy Rockwell (13-9) pitched five and one-third innings in relief of starter Jessica Rak and got the win for the Cardinals. Rockwell gave up one run on four hits, walked two and struck out six. Rak worked an inning and two-thirds, gave up five runs on five hits, walked one and struck out one.
Wyatt (2-1) pitched a third of an inning in relief of Thompson and picked up the loss. Wyatt gave up two runs on one hit and walked one. Foster worked three and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out two. Thompson went two innings, gave up four runs on five hits, walked none and struck out one.
The two teams will meet in the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET).
