Softball Splits a Pair of Games Saturday

Saturday, February 11

Las Vegas, NV

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

Indiana State

February 11, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Louisville 6 - Indiana State 5 (PDF)UNLV 5 - Louisville 3 (PDF)

Cards edge Indiana State 6-5 in nine innings, fall 5-3 to UNLV

LAS VEGAS – The University of Louisville softball team split a pair of games on day two of the UNLV Sportco Kick Off Classic Saturday. The Cardinals opened the day with a 6-5, nine-inning win over Indiana State and fell 5-3 to host UNLV in their second game. Louisville (3-1) will wrap up the weekend with a 12 p.m. matchup against Indiana State Sunday.

"We did what we needed to do to win the first game," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I like that we battled back and never gave up when we were down, but we needed to make better adjustments at the plate."

Louisville 6- Indiana State 5 (9 innings)
Maryssa Becker's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth tied the game and Megan Hensley's two-out RBI double in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Cardinals to a 6-5 win over Indiana State. In the game, Louisville rallied to tie the score three times before taking the lead for good in the bottom of the ninth to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Sycamores jumped to an early lead with a pair of runs in the first. Rylee Holland was hit by a pitch and Becky Melcho walked to set up Brooke Rieme's two-out single.

Louisville got a run back in the home half of the inning when junior Sidney Melton led off with a double and came around to score on a double by Becker.

The third inning brought another run for the Cards when Melton reached on a three-base error and eventually scored on a groundout by Becker to even the score at 2-2.

With the game still tied after seven innings, Indiana State started the eighth with a runner at second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. Leslie Sims moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mary Turitto. Kassie Brown's infield hit placed runners on the corners for Bailey Martin whose fielder's choice saw Sims safe on a play at the plate to give the Sycamores a 3-2 lead. Brown crossed the plate on Hollan's groundout to make the score 4-2.

The Cards answered in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch-runner freshman Celene Funke started the inning at second base and moved to third on Goetz's groundout. Sophomore Jordan Vorbrink was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with two outs for junior Alison Szydlowski who connected on a game-tying double. A groundout ended the inning, and the game moved to the ninth.

Once again, the Sycamores pulled ahead. This time, Malcho started the inning at second base, took second on Erika Crissm's hit and came home on an error to give Indiana State a 5-4 advantage.

With her team down a run in the bottom of the ninth, senior Morgan Meyer started out as the initial runner at second. After fly outs by Melton and McNary, Becker stepped up to the plate and delivered her second hit of the game to bring Meyer home and tie the score at 5-5. With pinch runner freshman Caitlin Ferguson at first, Hensley ripped a double to left field and Ferguson sprinted around the bases and was called safe on a play at the plate to give Louisville the win.

Becker (2-0) got the win, holding the Sycamores scoreless and hitless while striking out one in 0.2 innings of relief. Hensley got the start in the circle and after giving up two runs in the first, went on to retire 14 consecutive batters before issuing a two-walk to Malcho in the sixth. In the game, Hensley surrendered five runs, three earned on three hits and struck out one in 8.1 innings.

Becker went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs to help lead the Cardinals at the plate. Sydlowski finished the game batting 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI while Melton had two hits and two runs.

Kylie Stober (1-1) took the loss after giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits and fanning two in 6.1 innings of relief.

UNLV 5 - Louisville 3
UNLV scored four runs in the first and held on for a 5-3 win in the second game of the day.

Louisville jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Melton was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and moved to second on McNary's base hit. A groundout by Hensley brought Melton home and McNary crossed the plate on an illegal pitch.

UNLV (2-1) put up a four-spot in the home half of the inning. Jade Yadao-Valdez singled and scored on Brianna Gatlin's triple. Justine Federe followed with an RBI single and came around to score when Janine Petmecky reached on a Louisville miscue. Petmecky stole second, took third on an error on the play and came home on Kiley Harrison's RBI hit to make the score 4-1.

Louisville got a run back in the second when junior Jenna Jordan registered a leadoff hit and used a groundout and an error to move to third before scoring on McNary's infield single to pull the Cards within a run.

The Rebels loaded the bases and had a chance to score in the third, but sophomore Lillie Goetz made a diving catch at third base to stave off the threat.

UNLV added an insurance run in the sixth. Emily Vera was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a groundout. After a two-out hit by Mara Kemmer place runners on the corners, Kemmer initiated a rundown on a double steal attempt and was initially thrown out, but not before Vera crossed the plate to give the Rebels a 5-3 lead.

Becker (2-1) took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits and striking out one in six innings. Jordan McNary was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

Kwyn Cooper (1-1) got the win after giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits in 6.1 innings. Gatlin and Federe each went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI to pace the Rebels offensively.