Softball Rallies to Beat North Florida 5-4

Saturday, February 10

Orlando, FL

11:00 AM

University of Louisville

North Florida

February 10, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 5 - North Florida 4

Cards score two runs in the top of the seventh to beat Ospreys 5-4

By: Lori Korte

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the fourth and scored a pair of runs in the seventh to beat North Florida 5-4 in the third game of the UCF Friends of Jaclyn Invitational Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals (3-0) will take on North Carolina in a non-conference matchup at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Senior Nicole Pufahl went 3 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs to tie the game twice and senior Jamie Soles drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh to help lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over North Florida. Freshman Danielle Watson (2-0) picked up her second straight win after holding the Ospreys to two hits, striking out four and allowing two runs, one earned in 5.0 innings of relief.

The teams played through two scoreless innings before North Florida (2-1) broke through with three runs in the third. Rindy Bryant got the home half of the inning started with a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Navia Penrod's base hit. An error on Megan Woodson's sacrifice bunt and a walk to Kayla McGory loaded the bases for Dominca Cocuzza's RBI single.
Tiffany Lower followed with a sacrifice fly to put UNF up 3-0.

Louisville answered with a three-spot of its own in the top of the fourth. Leading off the frame, Pufahl worked the count full and then sent a shot over the centerfield fence to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard. Junior Madison Cousineau singled and moved to third on an error on Maddy Newman's sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Caitlin Ferguson earned a walk to load the bases and a two-out walk to senior Jenna Jordan plated pinch-runner freshman Jordyn Wolfe, cutting the lead to one run. Junior Blaire Bass's RBI groundout evened the score at 3-3.

The Ospreys countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Bryant drew a two-out walk and scored on Penrod's double to put North Florida back on top 4-3.

Down to their last three outs entering the seventh inning, the Cardinals rallied with a pair of runs. Senior Alison Szydlowski drew a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Celene Funke who took second on freshman Kyra Snyder's sacrifice bunt. With the tying run in scoring position, Pufahl connected on the first pitch she saw for a single up the middle as Funke sprinted home to even the score and Pufahl took second on the throw. Cousineau's flyout to left field moved Pufahl to third to set up Soles' RBI single to pull the Cards ahead for the first time in the game.

After allowing a run in the fourth Watson retired the next six North Florida batters she faced before Bryant was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals defense stood strong to secure the win.

Sydney Matzko (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits and striking out eight in a complete game effort. Penrod led the Ospreys offensively, going 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.

"What I liked in this game was watching our team make another comeback," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "They showed fight and didn't back down when the other team had the lead. I thought we utilized our speed very well today and we were able to capitalize, not only in our execution, but also in getting ourselves into position to score runs. I thought we did a good job of holding them once we got the lead. Our two freshmen pitchers did a great job."