Softball Sweeps Virginia Doubleheader

Friday, March 18

Charlottesville, Va.

4:00 PM

University of Louisville

Virginia

March 18, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards beat Virginia 2-0 in game one and 7-2 in game two of an ACC doubleheader

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Louisville softball team swept Virginia in an ACC doubleheader Friday evening at The Park. Junior Maryssa Becker's one-hit shutout and junior Sarah Lopesilvero's two-run single secured a 2-0 win in game one and freshman Megan Hensley collected four RBIs and got the win in the circle to help Louisville to a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.

Louisville 2 – Virginia 0
In game one, Lopesilvero's two-run single in the second proved to be the only scoring Louisville would need as junior Maryssa Becker delivered five strikeouts while tossing a complete game one-hit shutout.

The Cards (18-6, 4-1 ACC) scored the game's only runs in the top of the second. Sophomore Jenna Jordan walked and sophomore Nicole Pufahl was safe on an infield hit to set up Lopesilvero's two-run single.

The Cavaliers (8-20, 0-5 ACC) threatened in the home half of the third when Kaitlin FItzgerald doubled and moved to third on Iyana Hughes' sacrifice bunt. Allie Arneson and Aimee Chapdelaine drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with two outs, but Becker issued a strikeout to get out of the jam. She went on to retire 12 of the next 13 batters she face in the game.

"I think the first game was a pitcher's duel, both teams struggled offensively while both pitchers threw a very good game," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We were able to get a two-run lead early on and sat on that – I would like to have seen a few more runs, but I think both teams played great defense in the first game."

Becker (8-4) picked up her fourth straight win en route to her second shutout of the season. Lopesilvero went 1 for 2 to lead the Cards at the plate.

Erika Osherow (6-12) took the loss allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out three in 7.0 innings. After surrendering two runs in the second, Osherow allowed only two more hits and retired the last nine batters she faced in the game.

Louisville 7 – Virginia 2
In game two, sophomore Sidney Melton went 3 for 4 with triple two runs and an RBI while freshman Megan Hensley drove in four runs and got the win in the circle to lead the Cardinals to a 7-2 win over the Cavaliers.

Louisville jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first when Melton led off the game with a single, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Hensley's sacrifice fly put the Cards on the scoreboard.

The Cavaliers answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Allie Arneson delivered a leadoff single and one out later, Katie Park homered to give Virginia a 2-1 lead.

The Cards used four hits to regain the lead in the fourth. Sophomore Nicole Pufahl and Alison Szydlowski delivered back-to-back hit and junior Jordan McNary followed with an RBI single to even the score at 2-2. Melton ripped a triple to bring McNary home and put Louisville back on top 3-2.

Louisville capitalized on two errors and four hits - including Hensley's three-run triple - to score four unearned runs in the sixth. Junior Hailey Smith reached on an error and another miscue on McNary's sacrifice bunt attempt put a pair of runners in scoring position to start the inning. Junior Morgan Meyer was safe on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Melton's fielder's choice saw Smith out at the plate, but kept the bases loaded for Becker who was hit by a pitch to bring McNary home. Hensley laced a bases-clearing triple to right field to increase the lead to 7-2.

Hensley (10-2) got the win in the circle, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and striking out three in a complete game effort. She also went 1 for 3 with four RBIs at the plate. Melton was 3 for 4 with a triple, a stolen base, two runs and an RBI. McNary was 1 for 2 with a stolen base and two runs.

Allison Davis (1-3) took the loss after giving up one run on two hits in one inning of relief. Park went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and Madison Labshere was 2 for 3 to pace the Cavaliers offensively.

"We were a little slow with our offense at first, but we found a way to score runs, but I'm just really pleased with how our defense played," said Pearsall. "Megan (Hensley) got off to kind of a shaky start, but started pitching a lot better as time went on."