By Glypie Grider

Junior Aja Sherman tossed the first perfect game in theUniversity of Louisville softball history in the first game of theCharlotte series over the weekend. A 5-6 junior from Las Vegas,Nevada, Sherman tossed a five-inning perfect game with sixstrikeouts. Currently 14-3 on the season, Sherman is a perfect 9-0in Conference USA with five shutouts. The perfect game markedSherman’s second no-hitter of the season and the third of hercareer.

“Aja threw very well Saturday. I was really impressed withher performance,” admitted head coach Sandy Pearsall.”She struggled a little bit Sunday, but I was really pleasedwith the entire pitching staff.”

The University of Louisville swept the three-game, two-dayseries with 8-0, 3-2, and 4-1 victories. Currently 38-11 on theseason and 19-2 in the Conference, the Cards are ranked first inconference standings ahead of the University of South Florida(17-4).

Supported by a strong offense, Sherman was able to close thefirst game of the series on Saturday afternoon in five innings dueto the 8-run slaughter-rule.

The Cardinals jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inningwhen a sacrifice fly driven by sophomore Michelle Vasquez drove inleadoff senior Shannon Nord.

The Cards added five more runs in the second inning whenfreshman Candi Hicks doubled down the left field line to scorefreshman Courtney Moore. A two-run double by Nord scored Shermanfollowed by freshman Audrey Rendon, who reached on afielder’s choice. Nord reached home off Vasquez’single. A Charlotte error allowed Vasquez to cross the plate forthe 6-0 lead.

A groundout by sophomore Amy Summers scored Rendon in thefourth. A base hit by junior Lisa Estes sent fellow junior SaraBausher for the 8-0 game.

Offensively, the Cardinals were led by Nord (2-2) with two runsand two RBI. The Cards tallied eight hits in five innings.

In the nightcap, freshman Catherine Bishop took the mound forthe Cardinals and picked up the win. Bishop allowed four hits infive innings. Fellow freshman Kady Garrick was attributed with herfirst career save, allowing one hit and striking out two in twoinnings.

Louisville scored in the bottom of the third to take the leadwhen Rendon bunted for a single, stole second, and moved to thirdon Nord’s bunt single. A sacrifice fly to right field byHicks provided Rendon with the window of opportunity to give theCards the 1-0 lead.

The Cards added the final two in the fourth when Estes reachedon an error and freshman pinch-hitter Jenn Skaggs nailed a two-runhomer over the left-field fence for a 3-0 game. Down in the countwith two outs, Skaggs blasted her second home run of the seasononto Brandeis Street into oncoming traffic. “Jenn did a goodjob with her pitch selection. She came through with a really bighit,” said Pearsall.

The 49ers responded with two runs in the fifth to make it aclose 3-2 game. With runners on second and third, however, Bishopretired the next two batters to safely get out of the inning.

Offensively, the Cards had four hits in the game. Hicks was1-for-2 with a stolen base and an RBI. Rendon was 1-for-2 with astolen base and a run.

In the final game of the series, U of L defeated Charlotte 4-1at Ulmer Stadium Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Lacy Wood’s basehit sent Hicks across the plate for the early 1-0 Cardinal lead inthe first inning. Louisville added two more runs in the second whenBausher’s two-run single sent Summers and Rendon home to makeit a 3-0 game.

U of L’s final run came in the fifth when a pinch-hitsingle by Skaggs sent Bausher across the plate.

Louisville starter Sherman picked up the win, allowing oneearned run on three hits. Sherman struck out five in seveninnings.

Offensively, the Cards had 10 hits. Bausher was 2-for-3 with twoRBI and a run. Nord and Wood each finished with two hits.

“I was happy with the three wins,” said Pearsall.”They’re one of those teams that can come out and beatyou if you’re not prepared, but I was pleased with ourteam’s defense.”

The Cardinals will wrap up regular season home play againstEvansville today at Ulmer Stadium. The doubleheader is slated tobegin at 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The Cardinals host the C-USA tournament at Ulmer Stadium inthree weeks, May 13-15. “We’re obviously pleased to behosting the tournament. We’re proud of the facilities and ourteam really enjoys the field,” said Pearsall.

“But it will be a tough conference tournament this year.Four of the teams can come in and take the tournament,”admitted Pearsall. Although the Cardinals currently lead C-USAstandings, Pearsall admitted that DePaul, Southern Miss, SouthFlorida, and Houston could give the Cards a run for their money.”It just depends on who’s hot and whoisn’t.”

Single-day tickets are currently available through theUniversity of Louisville Sports Information Department. Studenttickets cost $4, while all other tickets cost $7. Combo tickets areavailable in conjunction with the C-USA track tournament. Call852-6581 for more information.

* Additional story information provided by SportsInformation