Cards Set for ACC Softball Championship

The University of Louisville softball team will travel to Raleigh, N.C. where the Cardinals will face Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the 2016 ACC Championship on Thursday at 5 p.m. at NC State's Dail Softball Stadium. The game will be shown on the ACC's Regional Sports Networks and ESPN3.

• The winner of the game between second-seeded Louisville and seventh-seeded Syracuse will advance to Friday's semifinals to face the winner of the game between third-seeded Notre Dame (39-10, 13-7) and the No. 6 seed Virginia Tech (29-27, 13-11) which will take place on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
• All seven games of the championship will be televised with the quarterfinals and semifinals airing on Regional Sports Networks and ESPN3, and Saturday's title game appearing live on ESPN.

About Louisville:
• The Cardinals bring a 34-14 overall record into the tournament after finishing second in ACC standings with a 15-8 league record.
• Junior Maryssa Becker leads the team with a .407 batting average, 13 doubles and 57 RBIs. Freshman Megan Hensley is batting .351 with a team-high 13 home runs and stands second on the team with 52 RBIs. Sophomore Sidney Melton rounds out the top three hitters with a .344 average and a team-best 42 runs and 15 stolen bases.
• Becker (19-10) leads the pitching staff with a 2.23 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 185 innings. Hensley (15-4) - the current ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week - also carries a 2.23 ERA with 76Ks in 122.1 innings of work.
• Becker has reached via a hit or walk in 46 of Louisville's 48 games this season and owns the single season record for RBIs with 57 this season.
• The Cardinals are receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
• 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 653-329 overall record at UofL and a 903-663 tally in her 30th season as a head coach.

Louisville vs. Syracuse
Series Record: Louisville leads 18-9
NOTE: The bulk of the series between Louisville and Syracuse came between 2006 and 2013 when they were both members of the BIG EAST Conference. The teams have met in the post season four times and are tied 2-2 in those matchups.
Louisville vs. Syracuse in the postseason
5/10/07 - Louisville won 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Championship - en route to winning the title.
5/15/10 – Syracuse won 2-1 in the BIG EAST finals at Ulmer Stadium
5/14/11 – Syracuse won 1-0 in the BIG EAST finals at Ulmer Stadium
5/9/13 – Louisville won 12-3 in the BIG EAST quarterfinals at USF

2016 Series: Louisville took two of three games against Syracuse in an ACC series April 23-24 at Ulmer Stadium.
Louisville 4 – Syracuse 0
In the series opener, Maryssa Becker tossed a complete game shutout and Megan Hensley drove in two runs as the Cardinals won the series opener 4-0. The win also marked Pearsall's 900th career victory with 650 at UofL since starting the program in 2000.
Jocelyn Cater took the loss after giving up three earned runs on five hits and striking out one in five innings. Sammy Fernandez had two hits to pace the Orange offensively.
Syracuse 4 – Louisville 0
In game two of the series, Syracuse's AnnaMarie Gatti held the Cards to two hits – both by Nicole Pufahl – and handed Louisville its fourth shutout of the season as the Orange took game two by a score of 4-0. The loss also snapped Louisville's six-game win streak.
• Megan Hensley took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and striking out four in seven innings.
• Gatti and the Syracuse defense held the Cards in check, allowing a runner to move into scoring position just twice in the game.
Louisville 6 – Syracuse 2
Brittany Sims went 2 for 3 with three RBIs to help lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-2 series-clinching win over Syracuse
• Becker picked up the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and striking out one in a complete game effort. Hailey Smith finished the game with a double and two RBIs.
• Gatti took the loss after giving up three earned runs on three hits and striking out two in 3.1 innings. Jocelyn Cater surrendered three earned runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
Scouting the Orange: Syracuse enters the tournament with a 27-25 overall record and a 9-14 mark against ACC opponents. Most recently, the Orange fell 2-1 to Binghamton in its regular season finale. and lost three games to ACC foe Boston College.
• Syracuse is led offensively by Sammy Fernandez who is hitting .329 with 29 runs and 14 stolen bases. Corinne Ozanne has beltedout a team-best 14 home runs and has collected 33 RBIs.
• In the circle, AnnaMarie Gatti (12-13) carries a 3.52 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 151.0 innings while Jocelyn Cater (12-10) has a 4.47 ERA with 128 Ks in 139.0 innings of work.

Last Up
Louisville wrapped up the regular season last weekend in Tallahassee, Fla., where the Cards went 1-2 against No. 5 Florida State.
Louisville 4 - Florida State
Freshman Megan Hensley tossed a two-hit complete game shutout to lead the Cards to a 4-0 win over No. 5/5 Florida State in game one of an ACC series.
• Hensley struck out one and did not issue a walk en route to her third shutout of the season. Becker went 2 for 4 with a home run while Melton finished the game with a hit and two RBIs.
• Jessica Burroughs took the loss after giving up four earned runs on nine hits and striking out five in seven innings. Jessica Warren and Sydney Broderick each had a hit for the Seminoles.
Florida State 9 - Louisville 0
The Seminoles built a 4-0 lead and added five runs in the bottom of the fourth to hand the Cardinals their first eight-run rule loss of the season.
• Becker took the loss after giving up nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits in four innings. Jordan McNary, Maryssa Becker and Morgan Meyer each registered a hit for Louisville.
• Meghan King got the complete game shutout with four strikeouts in five innings. Ellie Cooper was 3 for 3 with three runs while Warren went 2 for 3 with three RBIs to pace the Seminoles offensively.
Florida State 4 - Louisville 3
The Cards fell 4-3 to No. 5 Florida State in both teams' regular season finale Sunday afternoon at FSU's JoAnne Graf Field. The series rubber-game featured four lead changes and a tie as Louisville outhit Florida State 11-7 and each team left eight runners on base.
• Becker took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and striking out four in 4.1 innings. Megan Hensley issued two walks, but did not give up a hit or a run in 1.2 innings of relief. Smith, Jordan, Sims, Meyer and Melton each had two hits on the day for the Cards.
• Jessica Burroughs got the win, allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out three in three innings of relief. Alex Powers was 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI while Sydney Broderick finished the game with two RBIs to pace Florida State offensively.

Hensley named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week
Freshman Megan Hensley was named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week on May 9 in the league's final weekly honor of the 2016 season. This marks the second time she has been named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week - she also earned the honor in the first week of the season on Feb. 15.
• Hensley did not allow a run in two appearances against No. 5 Florida State while holding the Seminoles to a .111 batting average, surrendering only two hits in 8.2 innings of work. The freshman from Ashland, Ky., pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout to help the Cardinals to a 4-0 win in the series opener and did not allow a hit or a run in 1.2 innings of relief in Louisville's 4-3 loss on Sunday. Hensley's effort came against a Florida State team that ranks third in the nation in runs scored, averaging nearly eight per game.
• She now has a 2.23 ERA and a 15-4 overall record entering the ACC Championship.

Tough stretch
The Cards closed the regular season against three top 20 opponents, finishing the last two weekends on the road. The stretch started with a midweek tilt at home against No. 11/11 Kentucky. The Wildcats score a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh to erase a 1-0 Louisville lead and prevailed 2-1.
• Louisville then traveled to South Bend for a three-game series against No. 18/19 Notre Dame. After Saturday's doubleheader was washed out, the teams moved it to Sunday. The Cards rallied for four runs in the seventh, but could not overcome an 8-3 deficit and fell 8-7, but rebounded for an 8-3 win in game two.
• The Cards closed the regular season at No. 5/5 Florida State and took the opening game of the series 4-0 behind freshman Megan Hensley's two-hit gem. The Seminoles rebounded to take game two 9-0. In the rubber-game, the teams traded the lead and tied the game once before FSU prevailed 4-3 to clinch the series.

Melton earns CoSIDA Academic All-District honors
Sidney Melton was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 2 team. She will be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
•Melton, a sophomore shortstop from Columbus, Ohio leads the team with 42 runs and 15 stolen bases and stands third on the team with a .344 batting average. The exercise science major carries a 3.92 cumulative GPA.
• To be nominated for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution.

Pearsall Notches 900th Career Win
On April 23 the Cardinals defeated Syracuse 4-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Ulmer Stadium. With the win, head coach Sandy Pearsall registered her 900th career victory and 650th win at Louisville. Since starting the program in 2000, she has led the Cardinals to six conference championships and 12 NCAA appearances.

Hensley Named to Schutt Sports/NFCA Top 25 Freshmen List
Megan Hensley has been selected as one of the Top 25 Finalists for the 2016 Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Freshman of the Year.
• Hensley (Ashland, Ky.) is in the midst of a record-setting rookie season at Louisville. She has started every game while splitting time between pitcher, the outfield and designated player. Her team-best 13 home runs are the most by a freshman in program history and place her third on Louisville's single season list.
• She is the second Louisville player to be named to the Top 25 list following junior Maryssa Becker who earned the honor in 2014 when the award was initially established.

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 .407 batting average and 57 RBIs - she also has thrown a team-high 185.1 innings and has 154 strikeouts and six shutouts to go along with a 2.23 ERA and a 19-10 overall record.
• Freshman Megan Hensley (15-4) has an identical 2.23 ERA with three shutouts and 76 Ks in 122.1 innings of work. She also stands second on the team with a .351 batting average and leads Louisville with 13 home runs while splitting time in the outfield, at designated player and in the circle.
• Becker leads the team with 16 multi-RBI games and 15 multi-hit games. Hensley is right behind her with 14 and 15 respectively.
• The two combine for 21 of Louisville's 34 home runs and 109 of its 273 RBIs.
• Hensley is a two-time ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week while Becker has earned the honor once this season.
• Louisville leads the league with a 2.21 overall team ERA.

Cards reach 30 win mark for 13th straight season
On April 17, the Cardinals defeated North Carolina Central to notch their 30th win of the season. Louisville has now posted 30 or more victories in 13 straight seasons (dating back to 2004). The Cards have posted at least 30 wins 15 times in the 17 year history of the program with a record-setting 55 victories in 2012.

Power trip
The Cardinals connected a pair of grand slams in back-to-back games against North Carolina State (March 26) and Western Kentucky (March 30). Louisville now has four grand slams on the season, setting a school record for most grand slams in a season and a game (twice).
• On March 26, freshman Lillie Goetz and junior Maryssa Becker each had a grand slam to highlight a 15-run third inning, marking the first time a Louisville team had two grand slams in the same inning - and game.
• Four days later, in the Cards' March 30 contest at Western Kentucky, Goetz delivered her second grand slam in as many games and one inning later, Hensley registered another.

Goetz - efficient offense
Freshman Lillie Goetz has two home runs on the season and she had made the most of them, connecting on grand slams both times.
• Goetz is the first Louisville freshman to hit two grand slams in the same season.

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 RBIs to move ninth the career list (128)
• 2 saves to tie for 1st in career saves (12)
• 1 shutout to move into a tie for 6th on the career list (14)
- On April 12, Becker got the win in relief in the Cards' 12-2 victory over Indiana. In doing so, she registered her 15th win of the season - a career high for wins.

High-octane offense
On March 26, Louisville used a 15-run third inning - which included grand slams by freshman Lillie Goetz and junior Maryssa Becker - en route to a 19-3 win over NC State.
• The 19 runs are the second most in school history behind a 22-4 win over Ohio University on March 9, 2014.
• The two grand slams in the third inning marked the first time in program history that Louisville has hit a pair of grand slams in the same inning – or game.
• Goetz's grand slam was the first since March 9, 2015 when Kayla Soles hit one against Illinois State.

Rookie sensation
Freshman Megan Hensley is in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign. The pitcher/outfielder/designated player leads the team with a 13 home runs and is the first freshman in program history to hit 10 or more home runs.
• Hensley currently has 52 RBIs, a record for most as a freshman at Louisville. She recently surpassed (current director of softball marketing) Chelsea Bemis who had 50 in her freshman campaign (2008).
• Hensley is now tied for fourth on Louisville's single season list for home runs with 13. She needs three more to move into a tie for second (16) and four more to move into a tie for first (17).

Homegrown Talent
The Cardinals' roster features 11 (of 21) 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 six 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 on the roster are underclassmen with junior Maryssa Becker serving as the veteran on the staff.

University of Louisville Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Adell

Maryssa Becker

Lillie Goetz

Morgan Hart

Megan Hensley

Sarah Lopesilvero

Jordan McNary

Sidney Melton

Morgan Meyer

Ashley Nikolao

Nicole Pufahl

Michala Riggle

Brittany Sims

Hailey Smith

Kayla Soles

Jordan Vorbrink

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