South Florida Takes Two From Softball
March 16, 2002
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers opened their Conference USA season Saturday, falling in both games of a doubleheader to South Florida. The Bulls used 10 innings to pull out a 9-7 win in the first game before picking up a 6-3 decision in game two.
South Florida (16-20-1, 3-2 C-USA) earned the win in the first game with a pair of runs in the top of the 10th. With the scored tied at seven, Courtney Lewellen doubled off Dana Bowers to drive in Stephanie Roberts and Shelly Riker. Charlotte (13-11, 0-2 C-USA) had a pair of opportunities to take the victory. The 49ers took a 5-4 lead after four with Melanie Thevenote's bases-loaded double that drove in Nora Petrie, Stephanie Dunlap and Leah Heston, but South Florida scored three in top of the seventh to retake the lead. Charlotte tied the game in the bottom half on runs by Denise Atmar and Kristy Constantino, but came up short of the comeback when Stephanie Dunlap was called out at third with the bases loaded as part of Thevenote's fielder's choice. In addition to Thevenote, Petrie had a strong game at the plate for the Niners, going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Lewellen finished the game 4-of-6 for the Bulls. Katie Dugger picked up the win in relief and improved to 2-5. Bowers took the loss and fell to 1-2.
In game two, South Florida built a 5-0 lead before Charlotte got on the board with three runs in the third. Constantino provided the 49ers with their first run, driving in Atmar from third on a single. Heston gave the Niners two more later in the inning, doubling to center to drive in Lynne LaPorte and Constantino. The Bulls answered with another run in the fourth, when Renee Oursler drove in Ginny Georgantas with a single, and held on to preserve the win. Corin Tassio earned the win and climbed to 5-5 for the year. She also drove in a pair of runs. Amy Morse suffered the loss and fell to 4-5.
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The teams wrap up their series tomorrow. Charlotte hosts South Florida at 1:00 at the Phillips Sports Complex. Admission is free.
