Softball Shuts Out NC State 7-0 to Clinch Series

Saturday, March 31

LOUISVILLE, KY

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

24-11, 0

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

20-15, 0

NC State

Louisville

March 31, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Louisville 7 - NC State 0 Sandy Pearsall post game interview Photo Gallery

Hensley strikes out seven in a complete game shutout

By: Lori Korte

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Junior Megan Hensley tossed a complete game shutout and went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI to help lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 7-0 win over North Carolina State in the deciding game of an ACC series. The Cardinals improve to 24-11 (4-5 ACC) while the Wolfpack drops to 20-15 (4-7).

Hensley struck out seven and scattered four hits in six innings to move to 10-4 on the season. The Cards backed her performance with 15 hits in the game. In addition to Hensley's three-hit showing at the plate, Funke also went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Melton finished 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and a stolen base.

The Cards jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Junior Sidney Melton got the offense started with a leadoff hit, took second on freshman Maddy Newman's sacrifice bunt and scored on junior Megan Hensley's RBI single. Senior Nicole Pufahl's base hit put two on for freshman Kyra Snyder who sent a grounder up the middle to plate Hensley.

Louisville tacked on another run in the second when sophomore Celene Funke smacked a shot to the centerfield fence for her first career triple and scored on Melton's second single of the game to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore Caitlin Ferguson's two-run double in the fourth extended Louisville's lead to 5-0. Senior Jenna Jordan and Funke delivered back-to-back singles to start the home half of the inning. After reaching on a fielder's choice which saw Funke out at second, Melton stole second to put two in scoring position for Ferguson who sent both of them home with her ninth double of the season.

The Wolfpack had a chance to score in the fifth when a hit by Angie Rizzi broke up Hensley's no-hitter and one out later, Natalie Jones connected on a single. A walk to Jade Caraway loaded the bases with two outs, but baseman Ferguson tracked down a foul ball near the third base dugout to end the threat.

The Cards added another run in the fifth. Hensley led off with a double and moved to third on freshman Jordyn Wolfe's base hit. Jordan was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Funke's hit to left field sent Hensley home to make the score 6-0.

Louisville tallied its final run in the sixth when Melton delivered a leadoff single and an error on the play sent her to second. Hensley's third hit of the day put runners on the corners and a wild pitch sent Melton home to increase the lead to 7-0.

Devin Wallace (11-7) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on six hits and striking out one in 1.1 innings. Kaylee Kobziak, Angie Rizzi, Moor and Jones each had a hit for the Wolfpack.

The Cards will return to action this week when they travel to Lexington for a midweek contest at No. 19/19 Kentucky.