Friday, March 18
Charlottesville, Va.
4:00 PM
University of Louisville
at
Virginia
Softball Travels to Virginia for ACC Series
March 17, 2016 | Softball
Cards will face Virginia in three-game series starting Friday
The University of Louisville softball team will hit the road for Charlottesville, Va., where the Cardinals will play a three-game ACC series against Virginia Friday and Saturday. The series was originally slated to be played March 19-20, but was moved up due to inclement weather in the forecast.
Louisville (16-3, 2-1 ACC) and Virginia (8-18, 0-3) will meet in a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. and will conclude the series with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
About Louisville:
The Cardinals bring a 16-6 record into the weekend after going 3-0 in the Louisville Softball Classic with wins over Jacksonville State (6-3), Dayton (12-2) and Eastern Kentucky (6-1).
Louisville is 2-1 in ACC play and is currently third in the early-season league standings.
Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .444 batting average, seven doubles, 16 runs and 30 RBIs. Junior Morgan Meyer is hitting .424 with two triples and 11 runs. Freshman Megan Hensley is batting .424 with a team-high six home runs.
Hensley (9-2) carries a 1.81 ERA and is holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Becker (7-4) leads the pitching staff with 74 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.
More Cardinal Quick Hits
This marks Louisville's first trip to Charlottesville - the teams played in Louisville in Cards' first ACC season in 2015.
Sophomore Sidney Melton is a perfect 8 for 8 in stolen bases.
Freshman Lillie Goetz has reached via a hit or a walk in each of Louisville's last 10 games. Becker has reached in 21 of the Cards' 22 games this season.
Louisville has outscored opponents 130-58
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 634-320 overall record at UofL and an 884-654 tally in her 30th season as a head coach.
Cards against the field
Virginia
Series Record: Louisville leads 6-2
Last Meeting: March 15, 2015 - Louisville defeated Virginia 7-5 to complete a three-game ACC sweep at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals also swept the doubleheader 5-0 and 5-4.
Scouting the Cavaliers: Virginia enters the weekend with an 8-18 overall record and an 0-3 mark in ACC play after being swept by No. 20 Notre Dame last weekend. The Irish took both games of last Saturday's doubleheader winning 9-2 and 7-3 and closed the series with 16-3 win on Sunday.
The Cavaliers are led offensively by Madison Labshere who is hitting .345 and is tied for the team lead with five home runs. Katie Park, who also has five homers, has driven in a team-high 25 RBIs. Iyana Hughes has scored 19 runs and has nine stolen bases.
Erika Osherow leads UVA's pitching staff with a 6-11 overall record and a 3.54 ERA. She also has 65 strikeouts in 99.0 innings of work. Lacy Smith (1-5) carries a a 6.09 ERA with 24 Ks in 43.2 innings.
Up next
Following this weekend, Louisville continue ACC play with a three-game series against North Carolina State March 25 and 26 at Ulmer Stadium.
Last time out
Morgan Meyer led the Cardinals to a 3-0 performance in the rain-shortened Louisville Softball Classic last weekend. The junior outfielder batted .857 (6 for 7) with two triples and a double, seven RBIs and two runs. She also posted a team-best 1.571 slugging percentage and .875 on-base percentage. Meyer had a pair of hits in each game including a 2 for 2 performance with a career-high five RBIs in the 14-2 win over Dayton. She also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs in the 6-1 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Louisville 6 - Jacksonville 3
In the Cardinals' first game of the tournament, freshman Lillie Goetz drove in two runs as the Cards tied a season-high with 14 hits en route to a 6-3 win over Jacksonville State. Junior Maryssa Becker (6-4) struck out three to get the win and freshman Megan Hensley picked up her second save of the season.
Louisville 14 - Dayton 2 (5 innings)
Junior Morgan Meyer went 2 for 2 with a double and a triple and a career-high five RBIs to help the Cardinals score a season-high 14 runs in a 14-2 win over Dayton. Freshman Megan Hensley (9-2) scattered five hits and struck out two to get the complete game win.
Louisville 6 - Eastern Kentucky 1
Junior Maryssa Becker went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and got the win in the circle to lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Ulmer Stadium Saturday afternoon in the Louisville Softball Classic.
Stingy pitching
The Cards have been impressive in the circle through their first month of the season. Louisville's pitching staff has posted a combined 1.79 ERA and held opponents to a .229 batting average while striking out 118 in 148.1 innings.
Junior Maryssa Becker (7-4) carries a 1.86 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 75.1 innings of work. Freshman Megan Hensley leads the team with an 9-2 record and carries a 1.81 ERA while holding opponents to a .211 batting average.
Louisville stands second in the ACC and is 10th in the nation with a 1.79 ERA.
Hensley stands fifth in the nation with three saves.
Dual Threats
Two of Louisville's top offensive threats also double as the Cards Nos. 1 and 2 pitchers. Junior Maryssa Becker (who also plays first base) leads the team with a .444 batting average and 30 RBIs - she also has thrown a team-high 75.1 innings and has 74Ks while carrying a 1.86 ERA. Freshman Megan Hensley stands third on the team with a .400 batting average and six home runs while splitting time in the outfield, at designated player and in the circle. The rookie carries a 9-2 record and a 1.81 ERA in 69.2 innings of work.
Hitting for average
Louisville is hitting .313 as a team with six regular starters batting above .300 and three players hitting .400 or above. Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .444 average while junior Morgan Meyer follows with .424. Freshman Megan Hensley rounds out the top three with a .400 average.
Homegrown Talent
The Cardinals' roster features 11 (of 22) players from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Jessica Adell, Morgan Hart, Morgan Meyer, Michala Riggle and Jordan Vorbrink all hail from Louisville. Lillie Goetz (Owensboro), Megan Hensley (Ashland), Sarah Lopesilvero (Simpsonville), Jordan McNary (Madisonville), Ashley Nikolao (Flaherty), Brittany Sims (Lexington) round out the other players from the Commonwealth.
Youth Factor
With five underclassmen in its most recent starting lineup and only three seniors on the team, it is fair to say that the 2016 Cardinals are a young team. Three of the four pitchers are underclassmen with junior Maryssa Becker serving as the veteran on the staff.
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:
6 walks (offensively) to tie for 10th on the career list (57)
1 win to tie for 7th in career wins (31)
2 saves to tie for 3rd in career saves (10)
2 shutouts to move into a tie for 8th on the career list (10)
Louisville (16-3, 2-1 ACC) and Virginia (8-18, 0-3) will meet in a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. and will conclude the series with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
About Louisville:
The Cardinals bring a 16-6 record into the weekend after going 3-0 in the Louisville Softball Classic with wins over Jacksonville State (6-3), Dayton (12-2) and Eastern Kentucky (6-1).
Louisville is 2-1 in ACC play and is currently third in the early-season league standings.
Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .444 batting average, seven doubles, 16 runs and 30 RBIs. Junior Morgan Meyer is hitting .424 with two triples and 11 runs. Freshman Megan Hensley is batting .424 with a team-high six home runs.
Hensley (9-2) carries a 1.81 ERA and is holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Becker (7-4) leads the pitching staff with 74 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.
More Cardinal Quick Hits
This marks Louisville's first trip to Charlottesville - the teams played in Louisville in Cards' first ACC season in 2015.
Sophomore Sidney Melton is a perfect 8 for 8 in stolen bases.
Freshman Lillie Goetz has reached via a hit or a walk in each of Louisville's last 10 games. Becker has reached in 21 of the Cards' 22 games this season.
Louisville has outscored opponents 130-58
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 634-320 overall record at UofL and an 884-654 tally in her 30th season as a head coach.
Cards against the field
Virginia
Series Record: Louisville leads 6-2
Last Meeting: March 15, 2015 - Louisville defeated Virginia 7-5 to complete a three-game ACC sweep at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals also swept the doubleheader 5-0 and 5-4.
Scouting the Cavaliers: Virginia enters the weekend with an 8-18 overall record and an 0-3 mark in ACC play after being swept by No. 20 Notre Dame last weekend. The Irish took both games of last Saturday's doubleheader winning 9-2 and 7-3 and closed the series with 16-3 win on Sunday.
The Cavaliers are led offensively by Madison Labshere who is hitting .345 and is tied for the team lead with five home runs. Katie Park, who also has five homers, has driven in a team-high 25 RBIs. Iyana Hughes has scored 19 runs and has nine stolen bases.
Erika Osherow leads UVA's pitching staff with a 6-11 overall record and a 3.54 ERA. She also has 65 strikeouts in 99.0 innings of work. Lacy Smith (1-5) carries a a 6.09 ERA with 24 Ks in 43.2 innings.
Up next
Following this weekend, Louisville continue ACC play with a three-game series against North Carolina State March 25 and 26 at Ulmer Stadium.
Last time out
Morgan Meyer led the Cardinals to a 3-0 performance in the rain-shortened Louisville Softball Classic last weekend. The junior outfielder batted .857 (6 for 7) with two triples and a double, seven RBIs and two runs. She also posted a team-best 1.571 slugging percentage and .875 on-base percentage. Meyer had a pair of hits in each game including a 2 for 2 performance with a career-high five RBIs in the 14-2 win over Dayton. She also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs in the 6-1 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Louisville 6 - Jacksonville 3
In the Cardinals' first game of the tournament, freshman Lillie Goetz drove in two runs as the Cards tied a season-high with 14 hits en route to a 6-3 win over Jacksonville State. Junior Maryssa Becker (6-4) struck out three to get the win and freshman Megan Hensley picked up her second save of the season.
Louisville 14 - Dayton 2 (5 innings)
Junior Morgan Meyer went 2 for 2 with a double and a triple and a career-high five RBIs to help the Cardinals score a season-high 14 runs in a 14-2 win over Dayton. Freshman Megan Hensley (9-2) scattered five hits and struck out two to get the complete game win.
Louisville 6 - Eastern Kentucky 1
Junior Maryssa Becker went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and got the win in the circle to lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Ulmer Stadium Saturday afternoon in the Louisville Softball Classic.
Stingy pitching
The Cards have been impressive in the circle through their first month of the season. Louisville's pitching staff has posted a combined 1.79 ERA and held opponents to a .229 batting average while striking out 118 in 148.1 innings.
Junior Maryssa Becker (7-4) carries a 1.86 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 75.1 innings of work. Freshman Megan Hensley leads the team with an 9-2 record and carries a 1.81 ERA while holding opponents to a .211 batting average.
Louisville stands second in the ACC and is 10th in the nation with a 1.79 ERA.
Hensley stands fifth in the nation with three saves.
Dual Threats
Two of Louisville's top offensive threats also double as the Cards Nos. 1 and 2 pitchers. Junior Maryssa Becker (who also plays first base) leads the team with a .444 batting average and 30 RBIs - she also has thrown a team-high 75.1 innings and has 74Ks while carrying a 1.86 ERA. Freshman Megan Hensley stands third on the team with a .400 batting average and six home runs while splitting time in the outfield, at designated player and in the circle. The rookie carries a 9-2 record and a 1.81 ERA in 69.2 innings of work.
Hitting for average
Louisville is hitting .313 as a team with six regular starters batting above .300 and three players hitting .400 or above. Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .444 average while junior Morgan Meyer follows with .424. Freshman Megan Hensley rounds out the top three with a .400 average.
Homegrown Talent
The Cardinals' roster features 11 (of 22) players from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Jessica Adell, Morgan Hart, Morgan Meyer, Michala Riggle and Jordan Vorbrink all hail from Louisville. Lillie Goetz (Owensboro), Megan Hensley (Ashland), Sarah Lopesilvero (Simpsonville), Jordan McNary (Madisonville), Ashley Nikolao (Flaherty), Brittany Sims (Lexington) round out the other players from the Commonwealth.
Youth Factor
With five underclassmen in its most recent starting lineup and only three seniors on the team, it is fair to say that the 2016 Cardinals are a young team. Three of the four pitchers are underclassmen with junior Maryssa Becker serving as the veteran on the staff.
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:
6 walks (offensively) to tie for 10th on the career list (57)
1 win to tie for 7th in career wins (31)
2 saves to tie for 3rd in career saves (10)
2 shutouts to move into a tie for 8th on the career list (10)
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP/1B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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