No. 5 Florida State Edges Softball 4-3

Sunday, May 8

Tallahassee, Fla.

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

34-14, 15-8

Florida State

45-8, 21-2

Louisville

Florida State

May 08, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Cards fall to No. 5 Seminoles in season finale

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team fell 4-3 to No. 5 Florida State in both teams' regular season finale Sunday afternoon at FSU's JoAnne Graf Field. The Cardinals (34-14, 15-8 ACC) have clinched the No. 2 seed in the ACC Championship and will face No. 7 seeded Syracuse on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals in Raleigh, N.C. The Seminoles (45-8, 21-2) had already secured the No. 1 seed in the tournament entering the weekend.

After the teams split Saturday's doubleheader, Sunday's rubber-game featured four lead changes and a tie as Louisville outhit Florida State 11-7 and each team left eight runners on base.

The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when junior Jordan McNary sent the first pitch she saw to centerfield for a leadoff triple. One out later, McNary slid under the tag at the plate when freshman Megan Hensley reached on a fielder's choice.

The Seminoles threatened in the home half of the first when Jessica Warren reached on a two-out error, Alex Powers followed with a hit and Sydney Broderick walked to load the bases. Louisville starting pitcher Maryssa Becker got Victoria East to line out to shortstop sophomore Sidney Melton to get out of the jam.

FSU used two hits and an error to score two runs in the third. Morgan Klaevemann led off with an infield single and proceeded to steal second and came home on a throwing error on Ellie Cooper's sacrifice bunt attempt to tie the score at 1-1. Cooper who had advanced to third on the error, came home when Powers sent a shot to deep centerfield which sophomore Nicole Pufahl chased down and caught at the wall for the second out of the inning, but the sacrifice fly made the score 2-1.

The Cards responded in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Jenna Jordan delivered a two-out single and senior Brittany Sims followed with a hit to place runners on the corners for junior Morgan Meyer whose hit fell in for a bloop double to bring home Jordan and tie the score at 2-2.

Louisville tacked on another run in the fifth when Melton led off the frame with her third triple of the season and Becker was intentionally walked to put two runners on. Senior Hailey Smith sent a two-out RBI single to shallow left field to give the Cards a 3-2 lead.

Florida State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Warren singled and moved to third on a base hit by Powers who proceeded to steal second placing two runners in scoring position. Sydney Broderick's single to centerfield scored Warren from third. Louisville centerfielder sophomore Nicole Pufahl fielded the ball and her throw connected with catcher Jenna Jordan, but Powers was ruled safe on the play to put the Seminoles on top 4-3.

The Cards had another scoring opportunity in the sixth when Sims and Meyer delivered back-to-back hits and Melton's flyout sent Sims to third, but a popup ended the threat.

Becker (19-10) took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and striking out four in 4.1 innings. 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 (24-5) got the win, allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out three in three innings of relief. Powers was 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI while Broderick finished the game with two RBIs to pace Florida State offensively.