Softball Sweeps Northwestern to Open ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Friday, February 16

Raleigh, N.C.

11:00 AM

University of Louisville

5-1

Northwestern

4-2

Louisville

Northwestern

Softball Sweeps Northwestern to Open ACC/Big Ten Challenge

February 16, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Louisville 7 - Northwestern 6 (8 inn.)Louisville 3 - Northwestern 2

Cards use late-inning rallies to beat Northwestern 7-6 in eight innings and 3-2 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By: Lori Korte

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team used late-inning rallies in both games to sweep Northwestern in a doubleheader to open the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Friday afternoon at NC State's Dail Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Wildcats 7-6 in eight innings to take game one and followed with a 3-2 win in the nightcap. Louisville (6-1) will take on No. 21/22 Ohio State in a single game Saturday at 10 a.m.

"I'm really pleased with how our team was able to respond and come back when we were down today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I think it speaks volumes for our players' leadership, the fight we have, and our never-say-die attitude. We've got to be better though. Our pitching and defense need to get the job done consistently. Having said that, we did make some very nice defensive plays today, but and I like how we were able to use our speed to manufacture runs."

Louisville 7 – Northwestern 6 (8 innings)
Senior catcher Jenna Jordan's two-out, three-run homer in the top of the seventh tied the score at 6-6 and senior Jamie Soles' sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run as the University of Louisville softball team rallied from a 6-2 deficit to beat Northwestern 7-6 in game one.

Down 6-2 with one out in the top of the seventh, senior Alison Szydlowski and Soles registered back-to-back hits and an error allowed senior Nicole Pufahl to reach. An obstruction call saw Szydlowski safe at the plate. With her team down 6-2 and two outs in the seventh, Jordan worked the count full and connected on a shot that cleared the centerfield fence to tie the game at 6-6.

Louisville's momentum carried into the eighth when sophomore Celene Funke, Ferguson and Szydlowski delivered three straight one-out hits to load the bases for Soles who sent a shot into right centerfield where Northwestern's Brooke Marquez made a diving catch for the second out, but Funke was able to tag up and score the eventual winning run.

The Wildcats (4-3) threatened in the bottom of the eighth when as Rachel Lewis connected on a leadoff double to put the tying run in scoring position, but Hensley and the Louisville defense retired the next three batters to preserve the win.

Louisville jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the second when junior Sidney Melton reached on a two-base error and Funke followed with a hit to put runners on the corners for Ferguson's two-run double.

The Wildcats countered in the third when Rachel Lewis connected on a solo home run. Morgan Nelson followed with a single and eventually scored when Sammy Nettling drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game a 2-2.

Northwestern capitalized on three walks, three hits and an error to put up a three-spot in the fourth. The fifth inning brought another run courtesy of Lewis's RBI which brought home Mac Dunlap who was hit by a pitch to start the Wildcats' inning. After falling behind 6-2, the Cardinals would go on to score five unanswered over the next three innings.

Louisville, which held a 9-8 edge in hits, was led offensively by Ferguson, who went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Szydlowski was 2 for 5 with a run, Jordan went 1 for 3 with three RBI and Funke scored a pair of runs. Junior Megan Hensley (2-1) picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out seven in 7.0 innings and retired 10 of the final 12 batters she faced.

Louisville 3 – Northwestern 2
In the second half of the doubleheader, the teams played through three complete innings before Louisville broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Madison Cousineau led off with a single. Maddy Newman entered to run and proceeded to steal second, setting up Soles' RBI single.

The Wildcats answered in the fifth inning when Dunlap walked, took second on a two-out single by Lewis and crossed the plate when Kenna Wilkey belted out a hit to centerfield. Louisville centerfielder Nicole Pufahl fielded the ball and rifled a throw to Szydlowski who tagged Lewis as she attempted to advance to third on the play to tie the score at 1-1.

Northwestern pulled ahead with an unearned run in the sixth after Morgan Nelson, reached on a two-base error and stole third. Lily Novak walked to put runners on the corners and a double-steal gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

The Cards responded in the home half of the sixth with an unearned run of their own. Jordan tallied a two-out hit and was lifted for pinch-runner Catie Barber, who moved to second when junior Megan Hensley reached on an error and crossed the plate on an RBI hit by Melton knotting the score at 2-2.

Once again, the Wildcats threatened in the seventh when Marissa Panko reached on a one-out error and stole second to move into scoring position. This time, Soles, Ferguson and freshman Kyra Snyder teamed for a 4-6-3 double play to keep the Wildcats at bay.

For the second straight game, the Cardinals late-inning offense produced the game-winning run. Szydlowski belted out a double and walks to Pufahl and Soles loaded the bases for Jordan, who reached on a fielder's choice which saw Soles safe at second and sent Szydlowski home to give Louisville the 3-2 win.

Freshman Danielle Watson (4-0) got the complete-game win, allowing two runs, one earned and striking out seven while scattering three hits. Offensively, Louisville outhit Northwestern 9-3, with Szydlowski and Jordan each collected two hits.

Kaley Winegarner (1-2) took the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits and striking out five in 6.2 innings of work. Lewis, Wilkey and Novak accounted for the Wildcats' three hits.