Three Home Runs Fuel 9-1 Win Over Purdue

Saturday, February 18

CHAPEL HILL, NC

4:00 PM

University of Louisville

7-1

Purdue

1-7

Louisville

Purdue

February 18, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 9 - Purdue 1 (PDF)

Louisville improves to 7-1 after fourth run-rule win of the season

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team used a season-high three home runs to beat Purdue 9-1 on day two of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Saturday at North Carolina's Anderson Stadium. Louisville (7-1) will wrap up the weekend against Ohio State Sunday at 10 a.m.

"I was very pleased that we put up nine runs and I thought we hit the ball very well," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I thought we were a little sloppy defensively today and that's something we've got to clean up. We keep talking about the fact that we really have to focus on doing the little things every day and do them right. If we do that, I think we're going to have a great year."

Maryssa Becker (6-1) notched her fourth straight win while scattering three hits and striking out three in five innings. The senior helped her cause with a 2-for-3, two RBI, two run performance that included a two-run homer. She now leads the team with three home runs on the season and stands tied for ninth on Louisville all-time list with 25.

At the plate, the Cardinals outhit the Boilermakers 13-3, collecting five extra-base hits in the game. Junior centerfielder Nicole Pufahl went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs while freshman third baseman Caitlin Ferguson had a career-best 3-for-3 performance and belted out two doubles while scoring twice. Megan Hensley also added a home run, two RBIs and two runs.

The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when junior Nicole Pufahl ripped a shot over the left field fence for her first home run of the season.

Louisville capitalized on five hits and two errors to put up a six-spot in the third. Junior Sidney Melton got the inning started with an infield single. McNary's fielder's choice saw both runners safe, bringing Becker to the plate. Melton proceeded to steal third and an error on the throw sent her home. Two pitches later, Becker sent a line drive over the right field fence for her third homer of the season. Sophomore Megan Hensley earned a walk and advanced to second when junior Jenna Jordan reached on a Boilermaker miscue. An RBI hit by Pufahl and a two-run double by Ferguson brought the score to 7-0.

Purdue (1-7) got on the scoreboard in the third when singles by Maya Hughes and Kristen Hoppman and a Louisville error loaded the bases. Brooke Perry's infield hit saw an out at second, but allowed Hughes to score before second baseman sophomore Blaire Bass teamed with Jordan at catcher to tag Hoppman out at the plate for the third out of the inning.

The Cardinals countered in the fourth with Hensley's two-run homer. Becker delivered a one-out single set up the sophomore designated player who launched her second home run of the season over the centerfield fence to push the lead to 9-1.

Katie Johnson (0-4) took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits in two innings of work. Hoppman paced the Boilermakers at the plate with two hits.

NOTES:

The 9-1, five-inning victory marks Louisville's fourth eight-run rule win in eight games this season.
The three-home run performance is a season high for Louisville and marks its third-straight multi-home run game. The Cards have now hit nine homers in eight games.
Maryssa Becker leads the team with three home runs and has 25 in her career, placing her tied for ninth on Louisville's all-time list. She needs two more to tie for eighth.
Becker now has 139 career RBIs and stands eighth on Louisville's all-time list – she needs one more to move into a tie for seventh