University of Louisville
SYRACUSE
Softball Sweeps Syracuse
March 28, 2015 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team swept Syracuse 15-11 and 5-4 in an ACC doubleheader played at Ulmer Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals (21-8, 10-1 ACC) and the Orange (12-14, 0-5) will wrap up the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
Louisville 15 - Syracuse 11 (PDF)Â 
In the opening game, senior Hailey Smith went 4 for 4 with two home runs and Kelsi Jones drove in four RBIs as Louisville built an early 8-0 lead and went on to beat Syracuse 15-11.
The series was originally slated to take place at Syracuse, but was moved to Louisville due to weather and field conditions - therefore the Cardinals are the designated visiting team throughout the weekend. Louisville jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Whitney Arion singled and used a wild pitch and a fly out by Maryssa Becker to move to third before scoring on another wild pitch.
The lead increased to 3-0 in the third. Kayla Soles led off with a single and Smith followed with her third home run of the season .
The Cardinals used two walks and five hits - including three doubles - to put up a five-spot in the fourth. Smith delivered a leadoff single. Nicole Pufahl and Alison Szydlowski earned back-to-back walks to load the bases for Sidney Melton's two-run double. Back-to-back doubles by Kelsi Jones and Whitney Arion made the score 8-0.
Louisville starting pitcher Maryssa Becker had a perfect game through three innings before Syracuse used six hits to put up seven runs in the fourth. Maddi Doane got the home half of the inning started with a double to become the Orange's first base runner of the game. Julie Wambold walked to set up Corinne Ozanne's three-run homer to put Syracuse on the scoreboard. Singles by Sydney O'Hara and Danielle Chitkowski registered back-to-back singles and Jocelyn Cater's RBI hit brought O'Hara home. Doane's bases-loaded double brought the score to 8-7.
The Cards answered with four more runs in the fifth. Smith got the inning started with a hit and scored on Szydlowski's double. Melton was hit by a pitch to set up Jones' two-run double. Arion's single plated Jones to make the score 12-7.
In the sixth, Smith's second home run of the game extended Louisville's lead to 13-7.
Syracuse responded by using three doubles and an error to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Danielle Dombrowski doubled and Alyssa Dewes reachec on an error to placed runners on the corners. Consecutive doubles by Doane and Wambold made the score 13-10.
Louisville got two runs back in the seventh. Arion walked and scored on Sydney Benz's pinch-hit single. An intentional walk to Smith loaded the bases for Szydlowski who was hit by a pitch bring Benz home to put the Cards up 15-10.
The seventh inning brought one final run for the Orange. Dewes reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on an error.
Shelby McCombs (7-2) got the win allowing four runs, two earned and striking out five in 3.0 innings of relief. Smith went 4 for 4 with three RBIs and four runs. Whitney Arion also went 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs while Kelsi Jones was 2 for 5 with four RBIs and four runs to help pace the Cardinals offensively.
Jocelyn Cater (8-10) took the loss, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits and striking out five in 3.1 innings. Maddi Doane led the Orange with a 3 for 5, five RBI performance at the plate.
Louisville 5 - Syracuse 4 (PDF)Â
In the second game of the day, Louisville built a 5-0 lead and held on to beat Syracuse 5-4 to clinch the series. Jordan McNary went 3 for 4 with two runs while Arion was 2 for 4 with three RBIs in lead the Cards at the plate.
For the second straight game, the Cardinals jumped to an early lead. Jones and Arion drew walks to lead off the game and Smith's RBI hit plated Jones to put the Cards on top 1-0.
Arion's three-run double in the fourth increased the lead to 4-0. Hits by Tiarra Sanabria and Jordan McNary and a walk to Jones loaded the bases for Arion who rifled a hit to left center field.
Louisville added one more run in the fifth. McNary delivered a bunt single for her third hit of the game. Jones and Arion registered hits to load the bases for Becker's sacrifice fly which made the score 5-0.
Syracuse rallied for four runs in the home half of the sixth. Rachel Burkhardt led off with a hit and scored on Doane's single. An error allowed Wambold to reach and sent Doane to third for Ozanne's RBI groundout. Sydney O'Hara's solo home run brought the score to 5-4.
Madi Norman (6-4) picked up the win after giving up four runs, one earned, on four hits and striking out five in 5.2 innings of work. Becker picked up her third save of the season while holding the Orange scoreless in 1.1 innings of relief.
Jocelyn Cater (8-11) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on 12 hits and striking out four in a complete game effort. Sydney O'Hara finished the game batting 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
