University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Softball Powers Past Pitt in 9-4 Win
May 03, 2015 | Softball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Freshman Shelby McCombs got the win in the circle and helped her cause by driving in four runs with an RBI double and a three run homer to help the University of Louisville erase a 4-0 deficit to beat Pittsburgh 9-4 in the final ACC series of the season Sunday at Pitt's Vartabedian Field. Sophomore Kristina Dillard and junior Hailey Smith each added a home run as the Cards erupted for nine runs in the final two innings after being down 4-0 in the sixth.
The Cardinals (30-16, 16-7 ACC) clinched their final ACC series of the season and earned the No. 4 seed in the ACC Championship. Louisville will face fifth-seeded NC State in the first round on at 1:30 p.m. on May 7 at Virginia Tech.
"I'm proud of our team - we showed a lot of heart today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We didn't give up and kept fighting even though we were down late in the game. We had a few different players step up for us today and that's what makes a good team. I thought Shelby McCombs pitched well for us throughout the weekend."
In a game that featured a total of five home runs, Pittsburgh (33-19, 11-13 ACC) got the scoring started early. The Panthers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first when back-to-back two out singles by Jenna Modic and McKayla Taylor set up Carly Thea's blast over the centerfield fence.
The Panthers added another run in the fourth on Maggie Sevilla's one-out solo home run which made the score 4-0.
The Cardinals got three runs back in the sixth when Whitney Arion led off the frame with a double and came around to score on a double by McCombs to make it a 4-1 game. Soles reached on a fielder's choice which saw McCombs out at third and with two outs in the inning, Dillard took a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall. Her first career homer cut the lead to one run.
Down 4-3 entering the seventh, the Cardinals used four hits - including a pair of three-run homers by McCombs and Smith to score six runs. Maryssa Becker drew a one-out walk and Whitney Arion followed with a single to set up McCombs' first career homer - a shot that cleared the centerfield fence which put Louisville on top 6-4. Kayla Soles drew a walk and Sims singled to place two runners on. One out later, Smith launched her fifth home run of the season over the centerfield fence to increase Louisville's lead to 9-4.
McCombs (10-5) got the win after allowing one earned run on four hits in 5.0 innings and striking out four of relief. Becker gave up three earned runs on three hits in 2.0 innings after getting the start in the circle.
The Cardinals pounded out 11 hits in the game with five of them going for extra bases. McCombs posted a career-high offensive performance going 2 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs while Smith went 3 for 4 with three RBIs in the game. Dillard finished with a 2 for 3, two RBI performance at the plate.
Kayla Harris (11-12) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on eight hits and striking out one in 3.0 innings of relief. Thea went 1 for 2 with three RBIs while Sevilla went 2 for 4 with a home run to lead the Panthers offensively.
