Softball Splits a Pair of Games in ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge

Saturday, February 20

Raleigh, N.C.

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

5-2

Nebraska

7-0

Louisville

Nebraska

Softball Splits a Pair of Games in ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge

February 20, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards rally to tie the game after being down 3-1, but fall 4-3 to Nebraska, beat Wisconsin 5-0 behind Hensley's one-hit shutout

RALEIGH, N.C. - The University of Louisville softball team split a pair of games on day two of the ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge Saturday at NC State's Dail Stadium. In game one, Louisville rallied to tie the game after falling behind 3-1, but fell 4-3 to Nebraska. The Cards rebounded with a 5-0 win over Wisconsin behind freshman Megan Hensley's one-hit shutout.

"I'm really pleased with our performance today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I think we let that Nebraska game slip away from us, we made one mistake that cost us, but we will learn from that. In the Wisconsin game, I thought we did a great job. I have nothing but great things to say about our pitching staff. I think Maryssa Becker had a great performance against a very strong-hitting team and Megan Hensley came in and pitched an outstanding game against Wisconsin."

Nebraska 4 - Louisville 3
In the first game of the day, senior Morgan Hart went 2-for-3 with a double and a game-tying home run in the seventh to help the Cards erase a 3-1 deficit, but Kiki Stokes' RBI single in the bottom of the seventh lifted Nebraska to a 4-3 win.

The game featured a pitchers' duel through the first three innings with Louisville's Maryssa Becker and Nebraska's Kaylan Jablonski only giving up one hit apiece.

The Cards broke through in the top of the fourth when junior pitcher Maryssa Becker led off the frame and took the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence for her second home run in as many days to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

The Huskers used four hits to put up three runs on the bottom of the fourth. MJ Knighten and Alicia Armstrong delivered back-to-back singles and advanced on Dawna Tyson's sacrifice bunt to place two runners in scoring position. One out later, Mattie Fowler's two-run double put the Huskers on top 2-1. Madi Uzicker followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 3-1.

Louisville got a run back in the fifth when Hart connected on a leadoff double. Junior Morgan Meyer entered the game as a pinch runner and took third on sophomore Sidney Melton's groundout. A wild pitch sent Meyer home to pull the Cards within a run.

With the Cardinals down 3-2 in with two outs in the seventh inning, Hart sent a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right centerfield to even the score at 3-3.

Nebraska responded in the home half of the seventh when Unzicker delivered a one-out double and Gina Metzler followed with a single to place runners on the corners for Stokes who worked the count full and then sent the game-winning hit to left centerfield to send Unzicker home for the 4-3 final.

Becker (2-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out three in 6.1 innings.

Cassie McClure (4-0) got the win, giving up two runs, one earned on three hits and striking out one in 3.0 innings of relief. Stokes was 2 for 4 with an RBI while Fowler went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Nebraska improves to 7-0 on the season.

Louisville 5 - Wisconsin 0
In game two, freshman Megan Hensley took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing her only hit of the game and junior Maryssa Becker drove in three runs to help Louisville to a 5-0 win over Wisconsin.

The Cards (6-2) jumped on the scoreboard early sophomore Sidney Melton was hit by a pitch to start the game and moved to second on Nicole Pufahl's groundout. After taking third on a defensive obstruction call, Melton crossed the plate on a groundout by Becker to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

The third inning brought another Louisville run. Junior Morgan Meyer registered a leadoff single and moved to third on Pufahl's base hit. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Becker brought Meyer home to make the score 2-0.

The Cardinals' offense continued with two runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore Jenna Jordan and Meyer started the frame with back-to-back hits. Freshman Michala Riggle entered to run for Jordan at second base and scored on an RBI single by Melton who took second on throw. One out later, Wisconsin was attempting to intentionally walk Becker, but with a 2-0 count, Taylor-Paige Stewart left the ball over the plate enough for Becker to send it to shallow right field for a double which plated to increase the lead to 4-0.

Louisville tacked on its final run in the sixth. Senior Hailey Smith reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on freshman Lillie Goetz's single and crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a 5-0 game.

After issuing a leadoff walk to start the game, Hensley and the Louisville defense proceeded to retire the next 18 batters. As the game entered the bottom of the seventh, Ashley Van Zeeland earned a walk to open the inning. Chloe Miller followed with the Badgers' lone hit of the game to place a Wisconsin runner in scoring position for the first time. Two outs later Samantha Arents reached on a fielder's choice that saw Miller safe at second and loaded the bases. Hensley then dealt her only strikeout of the game for the final out to ensure the shutout.

Hensley (4-0) got the complete game win, holding the Badgers to one hit. Becker went 1 for 3 with three RBIs while Meyer was 2 for 3 with a run. Pufahl and Hensley had two hits apiece and Melton scored a pair of runs as the Cardinals outhit the Badgers 11-1.

Stewart (2-1) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on hits and striking out five in 5.0 innings of work. Wisconsin drops to 4-3 on the season.

Louisville (6-2) will conclude play at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Sunday when the Cards take on Nebraska at 10 a.m.