Softball Earns Doubleheader Split at Lipscomb

Wednesday, March 2

Nashville, Tenn.

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

Lipscomb

March 02, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards fall 2-1 in game one, win game two 7-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Louisville softball team earned a doubleheader split with host Lipscomb on Wednesday evening. Lipscomb edged the Cards 2-1 in game one while Louisville rebounded for a 7-1 win in the nightcap. Louisville moves to 11-5 while Lipscomb is now 9-7 on the season.

"I think we left our game in Louisville today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Our pitching performances were not up to par today and we came out very flat, although we were finally able to get our bats going in the second game. Overall, we were not being aggressive offensively and we have to do better than that. Having said that, I thought Lillie Goetz did have a tremendous day at the plate."

Lipscomb 2 – Louisville 1
Lipscomb jumped to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first. Brittany Elmore led off with a single, stole second and moved to third when Abby Fenichel reached on an error to place runners on the corners with one out. Louisville starting pitcher Maryssa Becker dealt a strikeout to Caitlin Plocheck for the second out of the inning, but Elmore was safe at the plate on a double steal attempt that saw Fenichel out.

The Bisons added another run in the third when Khayla Green singled, took second on Destinee Brewer's groundout and came home on a hit by Elmore to give Lipscomb a 2-0 lead.

Louisville got on the scoreboard in the sixth. Senior Brittany Sims doubled to start the inning, moved to third on junior Jordan McNary's sacrifice bunt and was safe on a play at the plate when Becker reached on a fielder's choice to make the score 2-1.

Becker (3-4) took the loss allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and striking out seven in 6.0 innings of play. Becker, Hensley, Goetz and Sims each had a hit in the game.

Tanner Sanders (5-3) got the win after giving up one earned run and striking out six in 7.0 innings. Elmore went 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI to lead Lipscomb at the plate.

Louisville 7 – Lipscomb 1
In game two, freshman Lillie Goetz went 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs and fellow freshman Megan Hensley had a home run and registered a career-high seven strikeouts to get the win in the circle as the Cardinals beat Lipscomb 7-1.

Sarah Higgins led off the bottom of the second with a home run over the left field fence to give Lipscomb a 1-0 lead. The Bisons had a chance to push more runs across when Khayla Green singled Destinee Brewer walked and Brittany Elmore was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Hensley got Kasey Gibson to ground out to hold Lipscomb at bay.

The Cardinals used four hits including home runs by senior Hailey Smith and Hensley to take a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Smith got the frame started with her first home run of the season to put Louisville on the scoreboard and even the score at 1-1. Sophomore Sidney Melton followed with a hit and stole second. Becker's single sent Melton to third and an error on the play sent her home to put Louisville on top 2-1. Hensley stepped up to the plate launched a two-out, two-run shot over the left field fence. Her team-best sixth homer of the season gave the Cards a 4-1 lead.

Louisville tallied two more runs in the sixth when walks issued to sophomore Jenna Jordan and Melton set up Goetz's two-run triple which extended the lead to 6-1.

The seventh inning brought a final run for the Cardinals. Becker connected on a leadoff hit. Junior Jordan McNary entered the game to pinch run and proceeded to steal second. A double by senior Brittany Sims plated McNary to make it a 7-1 game.

Lipscomb had a final scoring opportunity in the home half of the seventh when Brewer registered a leadoff single and took second on Elmore's sacrifice bunt. Kasey Gibson walked to place runners on the corners with one out, but Hensley delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Hensley (8-1) got the win, allowing one earned run and scattering four hits while striking out a career-high seven in 7.0 innings. Becker went 2 for 3 with a run and Melton finished the game with a 1 for 2, two run performance with a stolen base.

Mandy Jordan (2-2) took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits and striking out five in 4.2 innings of work.

Louisville (11-5) will return to Ulmer Stadium for a three-game ACC opening-series against Georgia Tech this weekend. The teams will meet in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday and will play a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m. Admission is free.