Jordan Propels Softball to 7-4 Win over Syracuse

Friday, March 24

Syracuse, NY

1 p.m.

University of Louisville

19-8, 0

Syracuse

17-10, 0

Louisville

Syracuse

March 24, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 7 - Syracuse 4

Cards take game one of an ACC series at Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior catcher Jenna Jordan drove five runs to help the University of Louisville softball team defeat host Syracuse 7-4. The Cardinals (19-8, 4-0) will be back in action tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. for the second game of the weekend series with Syracuse.

"We knew this was going to be tough because Syracuse has a really good team," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "It came down to we needed to put some hits together and get some things rolling for us. We needed to open the floodgates, and somebody had to get a hit so we could feel okay. That's what happened for us at the end of the game."

After two and a half scoreless innings, Syracuse (17-10, 3-4) broke through with a run in the third inning. Sammy Fernandez tripled to center and later scored on Alicia Hansen's single up the middle.

Louisville responded with three runs in the sixth inning. Junior Nicole Pufahl doubled to lead off the frame and senior Tiarra Sanabria moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Junior Alison Szydlowski followed with a single to the pitcher and Megan Hensley was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jordan, who cleared the bases with a double to centerfield.

Jordan added a two-run single to help the Cards to four more runs in the seventh. Pufahl doubled to center to leadoff again. Szydlowski singled to center put runners on the corners and Hensley walked. Celene Funke entered to run for Hensley as the Cards loaded the bases. Jordan came through once again with a base hit to centerfield to plate Pufahl and Szydlowski. Funke came home on freshman Caitlin Ferguson's infield single and Jordan scored on an error to give the Cards a 7-1 lead.

The Orange rallied for three runs – all with two outs - in the bottom of the seventh. Fernandez reached on error and later scored on Hansen's single to right. Sydney O'Hara was hit by a pitch to put two on and both scored on an error to bring the score to 7-4. Louisville starting pitcher senior Maryssa Becker struck out the next batter to end the game.

Becker (14-5) took home the win, allowing four runs, one earned, and striking out five while scattering eight hits. Jordan finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored and a career-high five RBIs. Pufahl and Szydlowski both went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Syracuse's AnnaMarie Gatti took the loss and fell to 5-4 on the season. Hansen went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored to pace the Orange offensively.