Softball Splits NC State Doubleheader

Friday, March 30

LOUISVILLE, KY

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

23-10, 0

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

19-14, 0

NC State

Louisville

March 30, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Louisville 4 NC State 2 NC State 6 - Louisville 1 Highlights from Game Two Game 1 Photo Gallery Game 2 Photo Gallery

Cards take the first game 4-2, fall 6-1 in the second

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville softball team split an ACC doubleheader with NC State, taking the first game 4-2 and falling 6-1 in the second. The Cardinals (23-11, 3-5 ACC) and the Wolfpack (20-14, 4-6) will meet in the rubber game Saturday at 12 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.

"In the first game, I thought Megan Hensley did a great job of pitching and all day long we did a great job defensively," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "In the second game, it came down to a lack of attacking offensively. NC State has a very good offensive team and you've got to stop that offense and we didn't do a good job of that in the second game."

Louisville 4 – NC State 2
After falling behind 1-0 early in the game, the Cards scored three in the fourth and added an insurance run in the fifth to take the series opener. Junior Megan Hensley scattered two hits and struck out five to improve her record to 9-4, she also doubled and scored a run to help her cause.

NC State jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with Chandley Garner connected on a one-out shot over the centerfield fence.

The Cards answered with three runs in the fourth. Hensley connected on a two-out double and scored on senior Nicole Pufahl's RBI single to even the score at 1-1. Senior Jenna Jordan's double plated Pufahl to put Louisville on top 2-1. Jordan crossed the plate when an error allowed senior Jamie Soles to reach.

The Wolfpack used three walks and a hit to plate a run in the fifth. Timberlyn Shurbutt walked to start the inning. Two outs later, Jade Caraway's hit put two runners on. Back-to-back walks issued to Garner and Haylee Kubziak brought Shurbutt home to cut the Cardinals' lead to one run.

Louisville got the run back in the home half of the inning when freshman Kyra Snyder delivered a leadoff single and was lifted for pinch-runner Catie Barber who moved to third on senior Sidney Melton's base hit and came home on an error on the play to bring the score to 4-2.

Junior Sidney Melton went 2-for-2 while Pufahl delivered a double, scored, and drove in a run. Jordan also finished with a run and an RBI to help the Cardinals outhit the Wolfpack 6-2.

Devin Wallace (11-6) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits and striking out one in 6.0 innings. Garner and Jade Caraway delivered the Wolfpack's two hits.

NC State 6 - Louisville 1

In game two of the doubleheader, NC State scored a run in the third, put up a four-spot in the fifth and tacked on a final run in the seventh en route to a 6-1 win to even the series.

For the second time in Friday's doubleheader, Garner gave the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead with a solo home run. This time, she launched a two-out shot over the left field fence in the third inning to break open a scoreless game.

The Wolfpack used two walks and three hits – including Timberlyn Shurbutt's three-run homer - score four runs in the fifth. Madeline Curtis led off the frame with a single and eventually scored on Garner's double. A walk to Haylee Kpbziak put two on for Shurburt's home run which pushed NC State's lead to 5-0.

The Cards got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Melton earned a leadoff walk and hits by sophomore Celene Funke and freshman Maddy Newman loaded the bases for sophomore Caitlin Ferguson's sacrifice fly which made the score 5-1.

NC State tacked on a run in the seventh when Alyssa Compton singled and scored on Natalie Jones' RBI hit for the 6-1 final score.

Danielle Watson (13-7) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and striking out four in 4.2 innings. Freshman Paige Schindler allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out one in 2.1 innings of relief. Newman went 2-for-4 while Melton went 1-for-2 with a run. Ferguson's sacrifice fly drove in the Cards' lone run.

Kama Woodall (6-5) picked up the win after surrendering one earned run on five hits and striking out two in a complete game effort. Garner went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double and two RBI to pace the Wolfpack at the plate.