Day two of the Conference USA Softball Tournament is in the books and three teams remain in the chase for the tournament crown. No. 2 DePaul has already punched its ticket to the championship game scheduled for a 2:05 p.m. (EDT) start, while No. 1 Louisville and No. 5 Houston will meet at 10 a.m., with the winner advancing to face the Blue Demons. For the second-straight day, the tournament ended with a walk-off win as the Cougars defeated the fourth-seeded Bulls 4-3.

In game eight, Houston scored a pair of runs on a seventh-inning wild pitch to escape with a 4-3 victory over tournament-host USF. The game was the third of the tournament that ended with the home team winning in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The win was the second of the tournament for the Cougars (30-27), who advanced to play Louisville on Saturday at 10 a.m. (EDT), with the winner of that game advancing to face No. 2 DePaul in the championship game at 2:05 p.m. Houston avenged an earlier loss in the tournament to the Bulls (40-16), who have been eliminated after their second loss.

In game seven, No. 2 DePaul advanced to Saturday’s championship game of the 2005 Conference USA Softball Tournament with a 7-2 victory over No. 1 Louisville on Friday at the USF Softball Complex. Senior Saskia Roberson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a two-run single to finish with a tournament-high three RBI’s in the contest.

Roberson tied the game at one in the fourth with a solo home run to left-center. After Kate Sheaks gave the Blue Demons’ a 2-1 lead with her own solo shot in the fifth, the Blue Demons tacked on four more runs in the frame to claim a 6-1 lead.

In game six, freshman Bree Spence and sophomore Kasey Cash combined on a five-hit shutout to lift fourth-seeded USF past third-seeded East Carolina 1-0 on Friday in game six of the 2005 Conference USA Softball Tournament. The victory sets up a rematch of game two of the tournament between the Bulls (40-25) and fifth-seeded Houston at 6:30 p.m., EDT in game eight of the tournament. East Carolina was eliminated with its second loss of the tournament.

Senior first baseman Carmela Liwag delivered the game’s lone run with a RBI-single in the third off ECU starter Keli Harrell. Liwag’s two-out single put the Bulls ahead, while the Bulls’ pitching duo made the run hold up. Shortstop Christie Chapman singled and stole second before scoring on Liwag’s 40th RBI of the season.

In game five, No. 5 Houston defeated No. 6 Southern Miss 3-1 after scoring a trio of early runs. The Cougars jumped ahead 1-0 in the first on a solo home run by Brandi Clark, then added two runs on a fielding error by Southern Miss in the second. The Golden Eagles plated their first run in the second when Ashley Davis scored on an infield single by Allison Bullard. Neither team scored after the second.

Saturday’s championship game on May 14 at 2:05 p.m., EDT, will be televised by affiliates of the Conference USA Television Network. Don Russell will announce the play-by-play with Cheri Kempf providing the commentary.

Thursday, May 12
Game 1 – (6) Southern Miss 4, (3) East Carolina 1
Game 2 – (4) USF 2, (5) Houston 1
Game 3 – (2) DePaul 1, (6) Southern Miss 0
Game 4 – (1) Louisville 5, USF 4

Friday, May 13
Game 5 – Houston 3, Southern Miss 1
Game 6 – USF 1, East Carolina 0
Game 7 – DePaul 7, Louisville 2
Game 8 – Houston 4, USF 3

Saturday, May 14
Game 9 – Louisville vs. Houston
Game 10 – Championship Game, 2 p.m.

All Times are Eastern