Softball Falls To Louisville In C-USA Tourney
May 10, 2002 | Softball
Louisville, designated the visiting team, started the scoring early in the first. With three runners on base, Lisa Estes hit a foul ball toward left which was caught by ECU's Brandi Benedict. The base runners tagged up, and Louisville earned its first run of the game. With runners on second and third, Aja Sherman singled on a shallow hit to left field. The two runners scored to give the Cardinals the 3-0 lead. Louisville's last batter struck out swinging to end the inning. For the East Carolina batters, it was three up and three down, and the Pirates found themselves in need of a rally.
In the third, the Pirates had two runners in scoring position, but were unable to capitalize on any scoring opportunities. Again in the fourth, the Pirates has one out with a runner on base, but Angela Manzo hit into a double play, leaving the Pirates with no runs on the board.
In the top of the sixth, East Carolina had a change in the battery. Ashley Dempsey came in as the catcher, and Laurie Davidson took over the pitching circle. It was in the sixth that the Pirates put their first runs on the board. With two runners on base, Amber Gill hit a long shot to right field. Dempsey went on to score, but Kristin Johnson was called out at home on a throw from the second baseman. Gill would advance to third on the throw, and score on the next play on an error by the Louisville shortstop. The Pirates would end the inning with two runs, still down by one run.
East Carolina was unable to score in the seventh, and the Pirates would end the season with a 3-2 loss. Nicole Bacon got the loss for ECU, dropping to 22-17 on the season, while Krystle Herold earned the win for Louisville, now with a record of 4-9.
East Carolina ended the 2002 season with a 38-26 record, and a 10-13 Conference USA tally.
