Three-Run Eighth Lifts Lipscomb to 4-1 Win Over Cards

Tuesday, April 18

LOUISVILLE, KY

5 PM

University of Louisville

25-14

LIPSCOMB

32-13

Lipscomb

Louisville

April 18, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Lipscomb 4 Louisville 1

Lipscomb uses four hits to score three runs in extra innings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A three-run eighth inning lifted Lipscomb to a 4-1 win over the University of Louisville softball team Tuesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (25-14) will continue their home stand against in-state rival Western Kentucky Wednesday at 6 p.m.

With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings of play, Lipscomb's Destinee Brewer led off the top of the eighth with a single. Kasey Gibson followed with a bunt attempt that bounced in front of the plate and stayed fair and Abby Fenichel was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Brewer crossed the plate on Caitlin Plocheck's RBI hit to put the Bisons on top 2-1. An RBI fielder's choice by Sarah Higgins and a single by Hannah Devault added a pair of insurance runs.

Lipscomb jumped to a 1-0 lead behind Peyton Ward's one-out solo home run in the top of the second.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the fourth when Becker connected on a leadoff double and was lifted for pinch runner freshman Celene Funke. Two outs later, junior Alison Szydlowski belted out an RBI single which saw Funke safe on a play at the plate to even the score at 1-1. Louisville had two runners in scoring position when senior Morgan Meyer's groundout ended the inning.

Louisville had an early opportunity to score in the first inning when senior Jordan McNary singled, junior Nicole Pufahl walked and senior Maryssa Becker was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Lipscomb pitcher Mandy Jordan got sophomore Megan Hensley to pop up to the shortstop and struck out junior Jenna Jordan to get out of the jam.

Lipscomb's Jordan (21-7) held the Cards in check, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five while retiring the final 13 batters she faced in the game. Plocheck paced the Bisons offensively with a 3-for-4, one run, one RBI performance at the plate.

Becker (19-8) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out six in eight innings. After giving up a home run in the second, the senior retired 13 straight batters before allowing a double in the sixth. Becker, senior Jordan McNary and junior Jamie Soles each had a hit.

"Our defense was great today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We had a game plan offensively, but we didn't execute it."