Softball Plays Host to North Carolina State in an ACC Series

The University of Louisville softball team will play host to North Carolina State in an ACC series this weekend at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals and the Wolfpack will meet on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. and will wrap up the series with a single game at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday's game will feature an Easter Egg hunt for kids 12 and under starting at 11 a.m.

Series Info: Louisville vs. NC State
Date: March 25-26, 2016
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Venue: Ulmer Stadium
Live scoring: GoCards.com
Twitter updates: @UofLSoftball
About Louisville:
• The Cardinals bring a 19-6 record into the weekend after sweeping ACC opponent Virginia in a three-game series last weekend.
• UofL is receiving votes (4) in the ESPN.com/USA Today Division I coaches poll released on March 22.
• Louisville is 5-1 in ACC play and is currently third in the early-season league standings.
• Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .423 batting average, seven doubles and 31 RBIs. Junior Morgan Meyer is hitting .395 with two triples and 12 runs. Freshman Megan Hensley is batting .375 with a team-high six home runs.
• Current ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week Becker (9-4) leads the pitching staff with a 1.65 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. Hensley (10-2) carries a 1.83 ERA and is holding opponents to a .216 batting average.
More Cardinal Quick Hits
• Sophomore Sidney Melton is a perfect 10 for 10 in stolen bases.
• Freshman Lillie Goetz has reached via a hit or a walk in each of Louisville's last 13 games. Becker has reached in 24 of the Cards' 25 games this season.
• Louisville has outscored opponents 141-61
• 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 637-320 overall record at UofL and an 887-654 tally in her 30th season as a head coach.

Cards against the field
NC State
Series Record: Louisville leads 2-1
Last Meeting: May 7, 2015 - NC State won 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship. Kelsi Jones scored on a wild pitch to give the Cards a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but State answered with Morgan Tharrington's RBI hit to tie the score at 1-1 in the third. The Wolfpack took the lead with an unearned run in the fifth. Hailey Smith's solo homer in the home half of the fifth evened the score. Maggie Hawkins' RBI double in the sixth put NC State ahead for good.
•Maryssa Becker took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned on five hits with four strikeouts.
• Emily Weiman picked up the win after giving up two earned runs on four hits and striking out six in 7.0 innings
Scouting the Wolfpack: NC State enters the weekend with a 15-15 overall record and currently stand fifth with a 2-1 mark in ACC play after splitting a doubleheader with Virginia Tech on March 5 and then clinching the series with a win on March 6.
• The Wolfpack faced East Carolina in a midweek game and scored three runs in the seventh inning, but fell 7-4 to the Pirates.
•Molly Hutchison leads the team with a .385 batting average while Tyler is hitting .361 with a team-best 33 runs, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
• Courtney Mirabella (9-7) has shouldered the bulk of the Wolfpack's pitching duties and carries a 4.10 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 112.2 innings of work.

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
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.
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 2- Virginia 1
Senior Hailey Smith connected on a two-run double in the third and junior Maryssa Becker picked up her fifth-straight win as University of Louisville softball team held on to beat Virginia 2-1 to complete an ACC series sweep.

Becker Named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week
The University of Louisville's Maryssa Becker was named the ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week as announced by the league office on March 21. She was also tabbed College Softball Madness ACC Softball Player of the Week.
• Becker (Medford, Ore.) posted a 2-0 record – picking up her fourth and fifth consecutive wins in as many appearances - to help the Cardinals to a three-game series sweep of Virginia. The junior RHP also recorded a 0.50 ERA, allowing only one earned run and holding the Cavaliers to a .095 batting average while striking out nine in 14.0 innings.
• In game one of the series, Becker tossed a complete-game one-hit shutout while striking out five and retiring 12 of the last 13 batters she faced. She got her second win of the weekend in a complete-game effort against UVA on Sunday. In that game, she scattered three hits and struck out four.
• She now has a nine career shutouts, placing her ninth on Louisville's career list. She also moved to seventh on the school's all-time list with 36 career wins.
• Becker (9-4) carries a 1.65 ERA with two shutouts and 83 strikeouts in 89.1 innings of work. She is holding opponents to a .223 batting average on the season.
• This marks the first ACC honor for Becker and the second Pitcher of the Week honor for Louisville – freshman Megan Hensley was named co-Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 15.

• 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 1.69 ERA and held opponents to a .222 batting average while striking out 130 in 169.1 innings.
• Junior Maryssa Becker (9-4) carries a 1.65 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 89.1 innings of work and has picked up wins in her last five appearances. Freshman Megan Hensley leads the team with a 10-2 record and carries a 1.83 ERA while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.
• Louisville stands second in the ACC and is eighth in the nation with a 1.69 ERA.
• Hensley stands 11th 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 .423 batting average and 31 RBIs - she also has thrown a team-high 89.1 innings and has 83Ks while carrying a 1.65 ERA. Freshman Megan Hensley stands third on the team with a .375 batting average and six home runs while splitting time in the outfield, at designated player and in the circle. The rookie carries a 10-2 record and a 1.83 ERA in 76.2 innings of work.

Hitting for average
Louisville is hitting .308 as a team with six regular starters batting above .300. Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .423 average while junior Morgan Meyer follows at .395. Freshman Megan Hensley rounds out the top three with a .375 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)
• 6 wins to tie for 6th in career wins (42)
• 2 saves to tie for 3rd in career saves (10)
• 1 shutout to move into a tie for 8th on the career list (10)

Softball Plays Host to North Carolina State in an ACC Series

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Adell

Maryssa Becker

Lillie Goetz

Morgan Hart

Megan Hensley

Kelsi Jones

Sarah Lopesilvero

Jordan McNary

Sidney Melton

Morgan Meyer

Ashley Nikolao

Michala Riggle

Brittany Sims

Hailey Smith

Jordan Vorbrink

University of Louisville Athletics