Cards Rally, Fall Short in 6-4 Loss to Notre Dame

Sunday, April 2

LOUISVILLE, KY

2 p.m.

University of Louisville

NOTRE DAME

April 02, 2017 | Softball

Box Score ND 6 UL 4

Nicole Pufahl went 4-for-4 with homer, a double and drove in all four runs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team scored three runs in the final two innings and had the go-ahead run at the plate, but fell 6-4 to Notre Dame in game two of an ACC series Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The series finale is slated for Monday at 7 p.m. and will be aired on ESPNU.

Junior Nicole Pufahl went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and drove in all four runs for the Cards, but four errors proved to be costly allowing for two unearned Irish runs.

"We haven't had defensive game like that in a long time," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We really struggled defensively today and without a doubt, that cost us the game. I was proud that we continued to fight until the end, but it's hard to overcome that many mistakes."

Louisville (20-10, 4-2 ACC) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when freshman Caitlin Ferguson earned a leadoff walk, moved to second on senior Maryssa Becker's sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a single by Pufahl.

Notre Dame (19-13, 6-5) answered with three runs in the fourth. Melissa Rochford was hit by a pitch and eventually came home when Kimmy Sullivan sent a hit to deep left centerfield which fell in for a triple. Singles by Sara White and Karley Wester put the Irish ahead 3-1.

In the fifth inning, Notre Dame used three hits and two errors to tack on two more runs with RBI hits by Rothford and Katie Marino.

Ali Wester singled and used an error to score after Morgan Reed's hit up the middle to give the Irish a 6-1 lead.

Pufahl led off the sixth with her third homer of the season to cut the lead to 6-2.

Louisville extended its rally into the seventh when Becker and junior Jamie Soles earned back-to-back two-out walks to set up Pufahl's two-run double which pulled the Cards within two runs. Another walk issued to senior Tiarra Sanabria put runners on first and second and brought junior Alison Szydlowski to the plate to represent the go-ahead run. Rachel Nasland entered to pitch for the Irish and Szydlowski worked the count full. On the ninth pitch of her at-bat, the third baseman sent a shot to left centerfield, but Karley Wester sprinted over and made a running catch to end the game.

Katie Beriont (6-5) got the win after giving up four earned runs on six hits in 6.2 innings. Rachel Nasland picked up the save, retiring the only batter she faced in the bottom of the seventh.

Hensley (5-4) took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out three in 3.2 innings. Becker surrendered three runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out two in 3.1 innings of relief.