Softball Set for Home Opening Weekend

The University of Louisville softball team is set to open play at home with the Red & Black Softball Classic this weekend at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals will kick off the tournament against Cleveland State Friday at 1 p.m. and will take on Kent State at 3 p.m. On Saturday, Louisville will play Cleveland State at 1 p.m. followed by North Dakota State at 3 p.m. The tournament will conclude Sunday at 3 p.m. when the Cards face Kent State. Admission is free.

About Louisville:
• The Cardinals bring a 6-3 record into the weekend after going 2-2 in the inaugural ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge last weekend.
• Junior Maryssa Becker carries a .435 batting average with seven runs and 10 RBIs. She also holds a 2-2 record with a 1.14 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 30.2 innings of work.
• Freshman Megan Hensley (4-1) carries a 0.74 ERA and is holding opponents to a .131 batting average.
• Sophomore Nicole Pufahl leads the Cardinals with three home runs.
• Head coach Sandy Pearsall is in her 17th season at the helm. Since starting the program in 2000, she has led the Cardinals to six conference championships and 12 NCAA appearances. Pearsall has a 625-318 overall record at UofL and an 875-652 tally in her 30th season as a head coach.

Red & Black Tournament Schedule*
Friday, February 26
1 p.m. – Cleveland State vs. Louisville (Promotion: 150 Louisville Softball Schedule Magnets and Posters)
3 p.m. – Kent State vs. Louisville
Saturday, February 27
11 a.m. – Kent State vs. Cleveland State
1 p.m. – Cleveland State vs. Louisville (Promotion: 250 Louisville Ponchos and Posters)
3 p.m. – North Dakota State vs. Louisville
5 p.m. – Kent State vs. North Dakota State*
Sunday, February 28
11 a.m. – North Dakota State vs. Cleveland State
1 p.m. – North Dakota State vs. Kent State
3 p.m. – Kent State vs. Louisville (Promotion: 250 Louisville Softball Koozies)
*Due to anticipated weather conditions, the Kent State/North Dakota State game was moved to Saturday at 5 p.m. – it had previously been slated for Friday at 11 a.m.

Parking: Fans are encouraged to utilize the parking garage on Floyd Street (enter on Floyd Street side at the stoplight). There is a flat $5 fee for parking.

• All five Louisville games in the Red & Black Classic will be carried on CardsTV. Click here to for subscription information http://gocards.com/watch/purchase.aspx#register

Cardinal Quick Hits
• Louisville is 13-3 in home openers in the history of the program.
• Junior Maryssa Becker is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has reached via a hit or a walk in each of Louisville's nine games.
• Becker recently registered her 100th career hit in the 3-0 loss to Nebraska on Feb. 21.
• Louisville has outscored opponents 43-13
• The Cardinals have outscored opponents 43-13.
• Three players have hit multiple home runs on the season: Sophomore Nicole Pufahl leads the team with three while junior Maryssa Becker and freshman Megan Hensley have two apiece.

Up Next:
Louisville will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to take on Lipscomb in a midweek doubleheader on March 2. Following that, the Cards will open ACC play by hosting Georgia Tech in a three-game series March 5-6.

Cards against the field
North Dakota State
Series Record: First Meeting
Scouting the Bison: North Dakota State returns 14 letterwinners from the 2015 team that posted a 45-11 record and appeared in the NCAA Eugene Regional. The Bison bring a 5-5 record into the weekend after going 3-2 at the Stanford Nike Invitational last weekend. Infielder Logan Moreland leads the team offensively with a .419 average and a team-high six stolen bases. Alyssa Reina adds a team-high nine RBIs and six runs along with her .310 average. 2015 Summit League Player of the Year and all-Summit first team selection infielder Cheyenne Garcia contributes a .290 average along with six RBIs and five runs.
•In the circle, RHP Jacquelyn Sertic leads the team with a 2-2 record and a 2.38 ERA. Sertic has 19 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. RHP Kaitlyn Leddy (3-3) carries a 3.80 ERA for the Bison.

Kent State
Series Record: Louisville leads 5-0
Last Meeting: March 14, 2014 – Louisville defeated Kent State 2-1 as part of the Louisville Classic at Ulmer Stadium. Maryssa Becker picked up her second save of the season in relief.
Scouting the Golden Flashes: Kent State (9-1) is off to its best start since the 1990 season and is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Coaches Poll. The Golden Flashes began the season at the Florida Gulf Coast Kickoff Classic and went a perfect 5-0 with wins over Illinois-Chicago, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Michigan State and Florida Gulf Coast. Kent State followed with a 4-1 stint in the Upstate Invitational with the lone loss of the tournament coming to Furman.
• The Golden Flashes are led offensively by Erika Warren's .421 batting average. She is followed closely by Arika Roush who carries a .414 batting average and Bailey Brownfield who is hitting.367, including one home run and a team-high 10 RBIs. In the circle, Ronnie Ladines brings an impressive 6-0 into the weekend. She carries a 0.80 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just three walks in 35 innings of work.

Cleveland State
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Vikings: Cleveland State is off to a 4-5 start to begin the season after appearing in two tournaments. The Vikings went 3-1 in their season opening CSU Dome Tournament and with wins over Niagara, Robert Morris and Bowling Green. They followed that up with a 1-4 showing at the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic.
• CSU is led by three-time All-Horizon League Katelind Phillips who brings a .500 batting average into the weekend. Erica Mcnew leads the Vikings with two home runs and nine RBIs and is hitting .467 on the season.
• In the circle, Susan Knight (1-2) holds a 2.49 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work.
NOTE: Cleveland State head coach Rebecca Norris has roots in the city of Louisville where she was a two-sport athlete (softball and field hockey) at Bellarmine University.

Last time out
The Cardinals went 2-2 in the inaugural ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge with a pair of wins over Wisconsin and two losses to Nebraska. Junior Maryssa Becker led Louisville on the weekend with a .455 batting average (5 for 11), seven RBIs and three runs. The junior pitcher/first baseman had at least one hit – and one extra base hit in every game, connecting on three doubles and two home runs for a 1.273 slugging percentage.
• Becker also turned in a strong performance in the circle going 1 for 1 with 10 strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work. She also held opponents to a .207 batting average and a1.75 ERA.
Louisville 7 - Wisconsin 0
• Junior Maryssa Becker got the win in the circle and went 2 for 2 with a double and a home run and three RBIs to propel the University of Louisville softball team to a 7-1 win over Wisconsin in game one of the ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge at NC State's Dail Stadium.
Nebraska 4 - Louisville 3
• 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.
• Maryssa Becker took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out three in 6.1 innings. She also had a home run in the game.
Louisville 5 - Wisconsin 0
• 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.
Nebraska 3 - Louisville 0
• Freshman Megan Hensley went 2 for 3 at the plate, but took the loss, in the circle, allowing three runs, one earned on four hits and striking out two in 4.1 innings. Becker held the Huskers scoreless on one hit and struck out two in 2.2 innings of relief.

Stingy pitching
The Cards were impressive in the circle through their first two weekends of play. Louisville's pitching staff has posted a combined 0.90 ERA and held opponents to a .167 batting average while striking out 36 in 62.1 innings.
• Freshman Megan Hensley (4-1) holds a 0.74 ERA in 28.1 innings while junior Maryssa Becker (2-2) carries a 1.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 30.2 innings of work.

Dual Threats
Louisville's top two hitters also double as the Cards Nos. 1 and 2 pitchers. Junior Maryssa Becker (who also plays first base) leads the team with a .435 batting average and 10 RBIs - she also has thrown a team-high 30.2 innings and has 27 Ks while carrying a 1.14 ERA. Freshman Megan Hensley stands right behind Becker with a .433 batting average and also has two homers on the season while splitting time at designated player or in the circle. The rookie carries a 4-1 record and a 0.74 ERA in 28.1 innings of work.

Hensley Named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week - Feb. 15
Megan Hensley was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week in the leagues' first weekly honors of the season released on February 15.
• Hensley (Ashland, Ky.) posted a 3-0 record on the week – earning a win in each of her appearances. The freshman registered a 0.82 ERA and held opponents to a .136 batting average with six strikeouts in 17.0 innings of work.
• Hensley helped her own cause at the plate with a .389 batting average (7 for 18) on the weekend. She led the Cards with six runs and belted out two doubles while driving in a pair of runs.

Louisville Picked to Finish Third in ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll
The Louisville softball team was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in a as voted by the league's 11 head coaches.
• Two-time defending conference champion Florida State was picked to win the league with nine first place votes after finishing the 2015 season with a 48-12 overall record and a 20-3 mark in ACC play. Notre Dame received 92 points and two first-place votes to stand at second in the preseason poll. The Irish are coming off of a 42-15 campaign and went 17-6 in the conference last season and finished third in the ACC.
• Louisville and North Carolina State tied for third with 74 points each. The Cardinals finished the 2015 season with a 30-19 overall record and went 16-7 to finish fourth in the ACC. The Cardinals went on to make their 12th consecutive NCAA regional appearance.
• North Carolina State posted a 38-20 (13-8) record in 2015 and finished fifth in the ACC regular season standings. North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Virginia rounded out the final seven spots in the preseason poll.

Louisville softball broadcast schedule
        The University of Louisville softball team has announced its 2016 television schedule was released Monday and includes 14 games shown on ESPN3. All of Louisville's remaining home games not selected for ESPN coverage will be available for viewing through CardsTV at GoCards.com.
Louisville Softball on ESPN Networks
April 2    Louisville at North Carolina - 1 p.m.
April 3    Louisville at North Carolina - 3 p.m.
April 9    Louisville vs. Virginia Tech - 12 p.m.
April 9    Louisville vs. Virginia Tech - 3 p.m.
April 10 Louisville vs. Virginia Tech - 12 p.m.
April 23 Louisville vs. Syracuse - 12 p.m.
April 24 Louisville vs. Syracuse - 12 p.m.
April 27 Louisville vs. Kentucky - 6 p.m.
April 30 Louisville at Notre Dame - 1 p.m.
April 30 Louisville at Notre Dame - 3 p.m.
May 1     Louisville at Notre Dame - 12 p.m.
May 7     Louisville at Florida State - 4 p.m.
May 7     Louisville at Florida State - 6 p.m.
May 8     Louisville at Florida State - 12 p.m.

Becker Earns College Sports Madness Preseason ACC honors
Junior Maryssa Becker was named to the College Sports Madness 2016 Preseason All-ACC Team. The pitcher/first baseman was an All-ACC first team selection and was named to the 2015 NFCA All-Southeast Region team after leading Louisville at the plate with nine home runs and 39 RBI; and in the circle with a 14-9 record, 2.12 ERA and 147 strikeouts.

Cards solid in classroom
        The University of Louisville softball team worked hard off the field in the 2015-16 fall semester. As a team, the Cards posted a 3.34 GPA in the fall semester. Additionally, 14 players were named to the Athletic Director's honor roll after posting a 3.0 GPA or higher.
        The following players were named to the 2015-16 Athletic Director's honor roll for the fall semester: Maryssa Becker, Lillie Goetz, Morgan Hart, Megan Hensley, Jenna Jordan, Sarah Lopesilvero, Jordan McNary, Sidney Melton, Madi Norman, Michala Riggle, Brittany Sims, Hailey Smith, Jamie Soles, Jordan Vorbrink.

Becker career record watch
Junior Maryssa Becker is ranked among the top 10 in several career categories at Louisville. The following is a list of milestones she will reach in the near future:
• 1 start to tie for 6th in career starts (58)
• 1 appearance in the circle to move to 6th on the career list (86)
• 2 wins to tie for 8th in career wins (31)
• 3 saves to tie for 3rd in career saves (10)
• 3 shutouts to move into a tie for 8th on the career list (10)

Tough Road Ahead
Louisville's 2016 slate features four teams ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA Division I coaches polls including No. 2/2 Michigan and No. 15/13 Florida State, No. 17/18 Kentucky, and No. 23 Notre Dame. Additionally, the Cards face three teams currently receiving votes in the preseason polls: North Dakota State, Nebraska and Kent State.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Maryssa Becker

Lillie Goetz

Morgan Hart

Megan Hensley

Jenna Jordan

Sarah Lopesilvero

Jordan McNary

Sidney Melton

Madi Norman

Nicole Pufahl

Michala Riggle

Brittany Sims

Hailey Smith

Jamie Soles

Jordan Vorbrink

University of Louisville Athletics