March 23, 2002

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas - The Charlotte 49ers softball team earned their first Conference USA win of the season, splitting a doubleheader at Houston Saturday afternoon. The 49ers finished on top, 3-1, in the first game before falling in game two, 9-1.

In the first game, Charlotte (15-13, 1-3 C-USA) got on the board early and never looked back. Stephanie Dunlap accounted for the first runs, with a two-run homer to left, which also scored Kristy Constantino. The Niners put up a third run in the second when Autumn Lawson parked another home run over the centerfield fence. Houston (22-14, 3-5 C-USA) tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, but were held to one run. Betsy Thompson earned the win to improve to 8-4. Shannon Carson pitched the final two innings to earn her third save of the season. Jamie Falco tok the loss for the Cougars and fell to 9-4.

The Niners also took the lead early in game two. In the top of the first, Dunlap delivered again with a double to drive in Constantino. The Cougars came back in the bottom half of the inning with five runs. Jeanie Davis capped the fireworks with a home run. Jenilee Skender's two-run home run in the third made the score 7-1. Skender knocked in another run in the bottom of the fourth followed by Ali McDougall who scored Kristen Glowacz to provide the final 9-1 margin. Jenny Johnson earned the win for Houston and moved to 8-7 on the year.

The return to action Sunday, when they play the series finale at 1:00.