Softball Splits Georgia Tech Doubleheader

Saturday, March 5

Louisville, Ky.

1:30 PM

University of Louisville

12-5, 0

Georgia Tech

4-10, 0

Georgia Tech

Louisville

March 05, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards win first game 12-3, fall 5-2 in game two

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team defeated Georgia Tech 12-3 in game one and fell 5-2 in game two of an ACC doubleheader at Ulmer Stadium Saturday. The teams will decide the three-game series Sunday at 12 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville 12 – Georgia Tech 2 (5 innings)
Junior Maryssa Becker went 3 for 4 with two home runs and six RBIs and got the win in the circle to lead the Cards to a 12-3 win over Georgia Tech in their ACC opener.

In game one, Georgia Tech (5-10, 1-1 ACC) jumped on the scoreboard early when Samantha Pierannunzi led off the game with a hit and took second on Kelsey Chisholm's groundout. Draven Sonnon's RBI double gave the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.

The Cards (12-6, 1-1 ACC) answered in the home half of the first inning when freshman Lillie Goetz was hit by a pitch and junior Maryssa Becker followed with her third home run of the season to put Louisville on top 2-1. Seniors Brittany Sims and Hailey Smith registered back-to-back singles and sophomore Nicole Pufahl's RBI hit plated Sims to increase the lead to 3-1.

Georgia Tech got a run back in the top of the second. Jessica Kowalewicz was hit by a pitch and took second on a groundout by Sydney Stavro. Katie Krzus doubled Kowalewicz home to pull the Yellow Jackets within a run and make the score 3-2.

Louisville used four hits including a two-run homer by Pufahl to score six runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Sidney Melton got the offense started with a leadoff single and Goetz was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to put two runners on. Hits by Becker and freshman Megan Hensley added two more runs and Sims followed with a two-run single to make the score 7-2. Pufahl stepped up to the plate and connected on her fourth home run of the season to increase the lead to 9-2.

The Jackets continued the scoring in the fourth. Chisholm opened the frame with a double and moved to third on a fly out by Courtney Ziese. Sonnon was hit by a pitch and stole second, an error on the play sent Chisholm home to make the score 9-3.

The Cards capped the scoring with runs in the fifth. Melton singled and Goetz walked to set up Becker's second homer of the game which brought the score to 12-3 and gave Louisville its first run-rule win of the season.

Becker (4-3) allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and in 5.0 innings of work. Pufahl was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, a run and a stolen base. Sims went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run and Melton was 2 for 3 with a stolen base and two runs.

"I thought our team really came out and attacked offensively in this game," said Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Maryssa was really seeing the ball well and we had great performances all the way around."

Emily Anderson (3-6) took the loss after giving up 12 earned runs on 11 hits and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Chisholm led the Jackets offensively with a 2 for 3, one run performance at the plate.

Georgia Tech 5 – Louisville 2
In game two, Louisville built a 2-0 lead, but Georgia Tech scored two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh en route to a 5-2 win to even the series.

The Cards jumped on the scoreboard early in the first inning when freshman Lillie Goetz and junior Maryssa Becker drew back-to-back walks and freshman Megan Hensley followed with an RBI single. Becker moved to third when senior Brittany Sims reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Jenna Jordan to give Louisville a 2-0 lead.

The Jackets used three hits and a Louisville error to put up two unearned runs in the top of the sixth. Pierannunzi singled, took second on Chisholm's sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a fly out by Sonnon. Courtney Ziese reached on a two-out error that sent Pierannunzi home. Jordan Deep's pinch hit RBI single tied the game at 2-2.

Georgia Tech capitalized on four hits and another Cardinal miscue to score three more runs in in the top of the seventh. Colleen Darrah started the frame with a single and came around to score on Maddie Lionberger's triple to put the Jackets on top 3-2. Pierannunzi's sacrifice fly plated Lionberger to add another run. Chisholm reached on an error and eventually scored on Kowalewicz's hit to make the score 5-2.

The Cards had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the seventh when Goetz singled, Becker walked and Hensley connected on a hit to load the bases to bring the winning run to the plate, but Georgia Tech hurler Emily Anderson and the Jackets' defense got a ground out and a double play to end the game.

Hensley (8-2) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned on seven hits and striking out five in 6.0 innings. She led the Cards offensively with a 2 for 4, one RBI performance at the plate.

Anderson (4-6) got the win after giving up two earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 7.0 innings. Lionberger went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI and Kowalewicz was 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead Georgia Tech offensively.