Cards Complete Series Sweep with 7-0 win at NC State to Earn No. 2 Seed in ACC Championship

Sunday, May 7

Raleigh, NC

12 p.m.

University of Louisville

31-18, 0

North Carolina State

17-37, 0

Louisville

NC State

Cards Complete Series Sweep with 7-0 win at NC State to Earn No. 2 Seed in ACC Championship

May 07, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 7 - NC State 0

Becker drives in three, gets win in the circle en route to 7-0 win in season finale

RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior Maryssa Becker had three hits, drove in three runs and picked up the win in the circle to lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 7-0 win against NC State. With the series sweep, the Cardinals (31-18, 14-8 ACC) earned the No. 2 seed in the ACC Championship and will face the Wolfpack (17-37, 10-14) in the first round Thursday at 5 p.m.

"I'm really pleased with how we played today and completed a sweep against a gritty, hard-hitting NC State team," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I'm happy with how we completed the regular season. Coming in second in the conference certainly was a testament to the determination and hard work of our players and our staff."

Becker (22-10) struck out nine and held NC State scoreless while scattering five hits in 4.2 innings of relief and helped her cause at the plate with three RBIs. Junior Nicole Pufahl had two hits, including a two-run homer and scored twice.

The Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first as senior Morgan Meyer led off the game with a double and came around to score on senior Maryssa Becker's RBI single.

NC State answered in the home half of the inning when Tyler Ross singled, Cheyenne Balzer was hit by a pitch and Alyssa Compton drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but sophomore Megan Hensley got Haylee Kobziak to ground out to end the threat.

Louisville tacked on two more runs in the third when junior Alison Szydlowski reached on an infield hit. One out later, senior Jordan McNary singled and stole second to set up Becker's two-run double to bring the score to 3-0.

NC State had another scoring opportunity in the fourth when Balzer and Compton delivered back-to-back hits and Kobziak walked to load the bases with one out. Becker entered to pitch in relief of Hensley and proceeded to fan the next two batters to hold the Wolfpack at bay.

Pufahl led off the fourth by crushing a shot over the fence in left centerfield for her team-best eighth homer of the season to increase the lead to 4-0.

The sixth inning brought three more Louisville runs highlighted by junior Jenna Jordan's two-run homer. Hensley got the frame started with a double and was lifted for pinch-runner sophomore Michala Riggle who came home on Pufahl's RBI single. Jordan stepped up to the plate and connected on her second home run of the season to cap the scoring a 7-0.

With her performance in the circle, Becker moved to second in Louisville's record book with 625 career strikeouts. Hensley combined on the shutout, getting the start in the circle and tossing 2.1 innings and surrendering five hits.

Peyton Silverman (12-23) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits in three innings. Compton went 3-for-3 to lead the Wolfpack at the plate.

Second-seeded Louisville will open ACC play against seventh-seeded NC State Thursday at 5 p.m. at North Carolina's Anderson Stadium.