Softball Sweeps on Day Two of Red & Black Classic

Saturday, February 27

Louisville, Ky,

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

8-4

Cleveland State

4-8

Cleveland State

Louisville

February 27, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards beat Cleveland State 6-0 and North Dakota State 4-3

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team defeated Cleveland State 4-0 and North Dakota State 4-3 on day two of the Red & Black Classic Saturday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (9-4) will conclude the weekend against Kent State Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Louisville 6 - Cleveland State 0
Junior Maryssa Becker registered a career-high 11 strikeouts and scattered two hits en route to a complete game shutout as the Cardinals defeated Cleveland State 6-0.

After three scoreless innings, the Cards broke through with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Nicole Pufahl drew a leadoff walk, moved to second when senior Hailey Smith reached on an error and took third on a fly out to right field by senior Brittany Sims. Smith stole second. Junior Morgan Meyer walked to load the bases for sophomore Jenna Jordan who connected on a pinch hit single to plate Pufahl. Becker's fielder's choice saw Smith safe at the plate. Meyer came home on an error and freshman Megan Hensley's sacrifice fly brought junior Jordan McNary home to give Louisville a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pufahl doubled and stole third. An error on the play sent Pufahl home to increase the lead to 5-0.

In the sixth, Hensley sent a two-out shot over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season to put the Cards up 6-0.

Becker (3-3) held the Vikings to two hits and did not walk a batter in 7.0 innings to get the win. She also went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Meyer was 2 for 2 with a run. Hensley was 1 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs, Pufahl was 1 for 2 with two runs in the game.

Macy Kaisk (2-2) took the loss, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits in 6.0 innings. Katelind Phillips and Sidney Morgan accounted for Cleveland State's hits.

Louisville 4 - North Dakota State 3
The Cardinals overcame a 2-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings and held on for a 4-3 win over North Dakota State (6-6).

The Bison broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the fourth. Zoe Savrou and Jackie Stifter delivered back-to-back two-out singles to put runners first and third. A passed ball sent Savrou home and an error on the play moved Stifter to third to set up Julia Luciano's RBI hit and give North Dakota State a 2-0 lead.

Louisville answered with two runs in the home half of the fifth. Melton connected on a one-out single and was safe at second on Meyer's fielder's choice. Becker smacked a double to right center field to even the score at 2-2.

The Cards tallied two more runs in the sixth when freshman Lillie Goetz singles and moved to third on Pufahl's double. Senior Hailey Smith's RBI hit put the Cardinals on top 3-2 and senior Brittany Sims followed with a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2.

North Dakota State got a run back and threatened to score more in the top of the seventh. Katie Schoultz started the inning with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Logan Moreland's groundout sent her to third and she scored on Cheyenne Garcia's triple to pull the Bison within a run. Becker entered to pitch with one out and the tying run on third and got Alyssa Reina to send a grounder back to the circle. Becker fielded the ball and caught Garcia in a rundown. Becker teamed with third baseman Hailey Smith and catcher Alison Szydlowski to tag Garcia out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Reina moved to second on the play to bring the tying run into scoring position, but Becker got another groundout to end the game.

Hensley (6-1) got the win, allowing three runs, two earned, on 11 hits and striking out five in 6.1 innings of work. Becker held the Bison in check and picked up her first save of the season in two-thirds of an inning. She also went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Kaitlyn Leddy (3-4) took the loss after giving up four earned runs on seven hits and striking out three in 6.0 innings of work. Shoultz led the Vikings with a 3 for 4, one run performance at the plate. Stavrou was 2 for 3 with a run and Garcia was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

"I was really proud that our pitching staff came back today and certainly did a much better job than yesterday," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "North Dakota State is a great team and I thought we did a nice job coming back late in the game and scoring runs - people stepping up and getting the job done. I was pleased with our defense holding in the seventh inning and Maryssa Becker coming in a doing a great job in relief for us. Jenna Jordan came through with a big hit, Brittany Sims made a great play at short - those are the kinds of things we have to have if we are going to win."