University of Louisville
Georgia Tech
Softball Sweeps Georgia Tech in ACC Opening Doubleheader
February 28, 2015 | Softball
ATLANTA - The University of Louisville softball team opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Georgia Tech Saturday. The Cards defeated the Yellow Jackets 6-1 in game one and overcame a late-inning 4-2 deficit to win the nightcap 5-4. Louisville (7-5, 2-0 ACC) and Georgia Tech (7-10, 0-2) will wrap up the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
"We're really happy to open conference play with two wins," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was pleased with way Maryssa Becker and Shelby McCombs pitched and I thought we played well in every aspect of the game - we made some great defensive plays and got some timely hitting. This was probably our best back-to-back performance so far this year."
Louisville 6 - Georgia Tech 1Â 
In game one, Maryssa Becker tossed a two-hitter and the Cards got home runs from Hailey Smith and Brittany Sims to help Louisville to a 6-1 win in its conference opener.
The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Whitney Arion was hit by a pitch to leadoff the game. Groundouts by Jordan McNary and Maryssa Becker moved Arion to third and she crossed the plate on a double by Kelsi Jones.
The Yellow Jackets answered in the home half of the third when Samantha Piernnunzi was hit by a pitch and moved all the way to third on a passed ball. She was safe on a play at the plate when Johnsky reached on a fielder's choice to tie the score at 1-1.
Louisville regained the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth. Jones drew a leadoff walk and stole second to set up Hailey Smith's two-run shot that cleared the scoreboard in left field to make the score 3-1.
The Cardinals' offense continued with a three-run sixth inning. Smith led off the frame with a walk and took second on Nicole Pufahl's sacrifice bunt. A pinch-hit single by Sydney Benz brought Smith home. Sims followed with her first career home run to increase Louisville's lead to 6-1.
Maryssa Becker (2-0) got the win, allowing one unearned run on two hits and struck out five in a complete-game effort. She had retired six straight batters before Johnsky single in the sixth, but left fielder Kayla Soles and second baseman Brittany Sims teamed to tag her out at second as she tried to stretch the single into a double. Becker and the Cardinals defense retired the final five batters of the game.
Offensively, Louisville outhit Georgia Tech 5-2 with Smith's 1 for 3, two-run, two RBI performance leading the way. Sims was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Emily Anderson (3-4) took the loss allowing six earned runs on five hits and striking out three in 5.2 innings.
Louisville 5 - Georgia Tech 4Â
In game two, senior Whitney Arion's two-out, three-run homer in the top of the sixth erased a 4-2 deficit and lifted the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Yellow Jackets.
The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead behind Maryssa Becker's two-out solo home run in the top of the first.
The Yellow Jackets responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Samantha Pierannunzi and Chelsie Thomas led off with back-to-back singles and scored on a hit by Katie Johnsky to give Georgia Tech a 2-1 lead. An RBI single Courtney Ziese plated Johnsky to increase the lead to 3-1.
The Cards threatened in the second when Smith delivered a leadoff single, Pufahl walked and Kristina Dillard reached on a fielder's choice which saw Smith safe on the play at third. A strikeout, a fielder's choice and another strikeout ended the inning.
Louisville got a run back in the top of the third. Kelsi Jones registered a two-out hit, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI single by Hailey Smith to make the score 3-2.
The Cardinals pulled ahead behind Whitney Arion's three-run homer in the sixth. Sidney Melton reached on a fielder's choice and Brittany Sims followed with a two-out walk to set up Arion's second home run of the season. The senior shortstop took a 1-2 count over the left field fence to give Louisville a 5-4 lead.
Georgia Tech threatened to score in the bottom of the seventh when back-to-back singles by Draven Sonnon and Kelsey Chisholm placed the winning run on first base. But third baseman Hailey Smith and second baseman Brittany Sims combined for a double play which left Chisholm at first. A groundout ended the game.
Shelby McCombs (3-1) got the win, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out two in 6.0 innings of relief. Offensively, Smith was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Jones was 2 for 4 with a double and a run. Arion was 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs.
Kyle Kleinschmidt (1-5) took the loss allowing five earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven in 6.0 innings. Johnsky led the Yellow Jackets with a 2 for 2, two RBI showing at the plate.
