Softball Defeats Bradley 6-3

Sunday, March 11

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

19-5

BRADLEY

10-11

Bradley

Louisville

March 11, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 6 - Bradley 3 Photo Gallery

Cards wrap up the Louisville Softball Invitational with a 6-3 win against Bradley

By: Lori Korte

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team wrapped up the Louisville Softball Classic with a 6-3 win against Bradley Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (19-5) will return to action Wednesday when they play host to Northern Illinois Wednesday at 5 p.m.

"We are pleased to get the win against a hard-hitting Bradley team," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Kyra Snyder had a good start on the mound and Megan Hensley threw well to close out the game. I thought we have struggled a bit offensively lately, but our speed on the bases has definitely propelled us to some wins this season."

The Cards jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. Sophomore Celene Funke got the home half of the inning started with a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by junior Megan Hensley. Senior Nicole Pufahl doubled Hensley home to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Braves (10-11) got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when Taise Thompson singled and was safe at second on an error when Jillian Navarro reached on a fielder's choice. Vicki Zaluske's bunt single loaded the bases for Gabby Stoner's sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. Louisville starting pitcher freshman Kyra Snyder and the Cardinals' defense got the next two batters to fly out to escape the bases-loaded jam without allowing another run.

Louisville tacked on two more runs in the second when senior Jenna Jordan walked and took second on a wild pitch. Snyder's base hit put runners on the corners for senior Alison Szydlowski's sacrifice fly. Junior Sidney Melton's RBI single brought the lead to 4-1.

Bradley countered with a pair of runs in the third with a bases-loaded walk to Zaluske and an RBI hit by Stoner to pull the Braves within a run.

The Cardinals used two hits and an error to push the lead to 6-3 in the fifth. Back-to-back one-out hits by Hensley and Pufahl put two runners on for freshman Maddy Newman who reached on a fielder's choice which saw Hensley safe at third on an error.

Hensley (6-2) got the win, holding the Braves scoreless on three hits and striking out six in five innings of relief. She also went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Pufahl went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Julie Kestas (2-3) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on two hits and striking out one in 0.2 innings. Stoner paced Bradley offensively with a 2-for-3, two RBI showing at the plate.