Day two of the 2004 Conference USA Softball Tournament at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Ky. has been cut short. Game seven featuring No. 5 Houston and third-seeded USF has been postponed until Saturday at 9 a.m. due to inclement weather. The Cougars lead the Bulls, 5-0, in the bottom of the third inning. Earlier, No. 4 DePaul posted a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over second-seeded Louisville to stay alive in game five. Saskia Roberson recorded the game tying RBI single and then hit the two-run game-winning homer in the top of the ninth to clinch the game. East Carolina shut out Southern Miss, 6-0, in the first game of the day.

Game Five – (6) East Carolina 6, (1) Southern Miss 0
East Carolina exploded with six runs in the first inning and held its lead to retire No. 1 seed Southern Miss in game five of the C-USA Tournament on Friday. With their second loss, the Golden Eagles (32-24) have been eliminated while the Pirates (47-23-1) will face No. 4 DePaul at 6:30 p.m.

Kate Manuse knocked in the first run of the day with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Christine Sheridan. Kristen Johnson followed with a single of her own to left field and plated Leigh Savoy. USM’s Danielle Wymer forced the Pirates’ third run after walking Lara Brickhouse, sending Johnson home. Shirley Burleson recorded two RBI with a single up the middle and the final run of the first inning was marked when Andiey Acosta scored on a Southern Miss fielding error.

Keli Harrell (16-7) pitched the complete-game win, posting six strikeouts and walking none. Sheridan led the offensive charge for the Pirates, batting 2-for-4 and notching a stolen base. USM’s Diane Hammes and Sue Logan went 2-for-3, while Hammes also picked up a double.

Game Six – (4) DePaul 5, (2) Louisville 3 (9 innings)
The Blue Demons recorded a dramatic come-from-behind win to beat second-seeded Louisville 5-3 in extra innings. Saskia Roberson posted the game tying RBI single in the top of the seventh and then went on to hit the game-winning two-run homer in the ninth frame.

Lacy Wood lofted a three-run homer over center field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cardinals an early lead.

DePaul’s Christina Douglas led off the second frame with a home run of her own over left field. The Blue Demons tightened the lead to 3-2 when Jenny Doezie scored on an Ashley Parker groundout.

U of L’s Catherine Bishop kept DePaul scoreless until the top of the seventh when the Blue Demons rallied to tie the game.

Sarah Douglas led off with a single up the middle. Ashley Parker advanced Douglas and reached first on a slap to the left side. Katie Sheaks then walked to load the bases. With a 2-2 count and two outs, Saskia Roberson singled down the left foul line to tie the game at 3-3 and keep the Blue Demons alive.

Louisville nearly clinched the game in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases off two hits and an error. But Michelle Vasquez grounded out to first base to end the inning short.

Roberson (2-for-5) came up with her second clutch hit of the day in the top of the ninth when she connected on a two-run homer over the center field fence to give DePaul its first lead of the game. The Blue Demons held the lead as Sarah Martz retired three in a row in the bottom of the frame.

DePaul’s Linda Secka went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and a triple. Wood and Audrey Rendon both went 2-for-4 while Sara Bausher hit 3-for-5 to lead the Cardinals.

Sarah Martz recorded her 20th win of the season while Kady Garrick took the loss.

The Cardinals are eliminated from the tournament and finished tied for fifth place with Southern Miss. DePaul will face East Carolina at 6:30 p.m. in game eight.


C-USA Tournament (Louisville, Ky.)

Thursday, May 13
Game 1 - (5) Houston 3, (4) DePaul 1
Game 2 – (3) USF 7, (6) East Carolina 1
Game 3 – (5) Houston 5, (1) Southern Miss 1
Game 4 – (3) USF 1, (2) Louisville 0

Friday, May 14
Game 5 - (6) East Carolina 6, (1) Southern Miss 0
Game 6 - (4) DePaul 5, (2) Louisville 3 (9 innings)
Game 7 - (5) Houston vs. (3) USF (postponed)

Saturday, May 15
Game - 7 (5) Houston vs. (3) USF (resumes) 9:00a
Game 8 – (6) East Carolina vs. (4) DePaul 11:00a
Game 9 - Loser G7 vs. Winner of G8 2:05p

Sunday, May 16
Game 10 – Championship 2:05p



All Times Eastern.