Softball Plays Host to Morehead State Tuesday

The University of Louisville softball team will return to action on Tuesday when the Cardinals play host to Morehead State in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium. Admission is free.

Game Day Information
March 12, 2019: Louisville vs. Morehead State (DH)
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Venue: Ulmer Stadium
Time: 4 p.m./6:30 p.m.
Promotions/Giveaways: Taco Tuesday ($5 walking taco), UofL headbands for first 50 fans
Admission: Free
Television: ACC Network Extra - Don Russell (play-by-play); Suzanne Bush (analyst)
Live Scoring: GoCards.com
Twitter Updates: @UofLSoftball

CARDINAL QUICK HITS
• Louisville brings a 15-7 overall record into the weekend following a 4-1 performance in the War Eagle Challenge last weekend.
•Louisville is led at the plate by junior Celene Funke who is hitting .382 (29-for-76) with 20 runs and eight stolen bases.
• Sidney Melton is currently on a seven-game hitting streak while Funke has had a hit in the past six games.
• Junior Caitlin Ferguson has reached base via a hit or walk in the last 10 games while sophomore Kyra Snyder and Melton have each reached base in the last seven games.
• Senior Megan Hensley has driven in a team-high 19 RBIs and is currently on a seven game hitting streak.
• Sophomore Danielle Watson leads the pitching staff with 54 strikeouts in 55.1 innings and a .192 opponent batting average.
• Watson, Hensley and freshman Taylor Roby have five wins apiece in the circle
• Hensley and senior Sidney Melton were selected to the 2019 Preseason All-ACC Team.
• The 2019 campaign marks Louisville's 20th season as a program and first under new head coach Holly Aprile's tutelage.
• The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Division and fifth overall as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

The Aprile Era

2019 marks the first season under new head coach Holly Aprile following the retirement of Sandy Pearsall, who began the program in 2000. Aprile becomes only the second head coach in Louisville softball history.
• Prior to her arrival at Louisville, Aprile, 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament.

Cards against the field

Morehead State
Series Record: UL leads 9-1
Last Meeting: March 10, 2011 - UL won 12-1 at Ulmer Stadium
Scouting the Eagles: Morehead State enters Tuesday's doubleheader with an 0-11 record. The Eagles' last four games were cancelled or postponed due to weather, which means Morehead State has been idle since Feb. 25 when it fell 5-4 to Central Connecticut and 8-3 to Norfolk State.
•Morehead is led at the plate by Peyton Rose, who is hitting .353. Peyton Slater has two home runs and five RBIs for the Eagles.
• Lakyn Largent carries an 8.15 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 22.1 innings of work.

Up Next

The Cardinals will open ACC play when Syracuse visits Ulmer Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday. Next weekend, Louisville will continue ACC play with a trip to Notre Dame March 22-24.

WAR EAGLE RECAP

The Cardinals posted a 4-1 record and outscored opponents 37-7 in last weekend's the War Eagle Challenge.
• Megan Hensley picked up two wins in the circle, did not allow a run and struck out 11 in 9.2 innings of work. The senior limited opponents to five hits, posting a .156 opposing batting average.
• Celene Funke led the way with a .526 batting average (10-for-19), nine runs, two RBIs and four stolen bases. The junior had at least one hit in each game and tallied multiple hits in three of Louisville five contests.
• Additionally, Funke scored nine runs, with at least one run in four of Louisville's five games on the weekend. She tied a school record with four runs in the 14-1 win over Michigan State. She had a hit and scored a run in the 6-2 loss to No. 19/20 Auburn.

Louisville 14- Mercer 0
UofL wrapped up the War Eagle Challenge with a 14-0 win over Mercer Sunday morning
• Megan Hensley tossed a complete game shutout while scattering two hit and striking out five. She helped her own cause by going 3-for-3 with three-RBIs and a run at the plate.
• Celene Funke went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI and Jordyn Wolfe tallied a career-high three-RBIs.

Louisville 1- Radford 0
The Cardinals scored a run in the first inning and held on to beat Radford 1-0 to notch Louisville's third straight shutout.
• Senior Megan Hensley picked up the win, holding the Highlanders scoreless on three hits and striking out six in 4.2 innings. Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby picked up her second save of the season after surrendering one hit and striking out three in 2.1 innings of relief.

Louisville 14 - Michigan State 1 (Five innings)
• In Louisville's second game of the day, Funke scored four runs, tying a school record and while Melton and Hensley drove in four runs apiece to help the Cardinals to a 14-1 win over Michigan State. Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit as Louisville belted out a season-highs in hits with 16 and runs.
• Watson tossed the complete game win, allowing one unearned run on two hits and striking out five in 5.0 innings. She also tallied a career high in hits with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate to go along with a run and an RBI. Newman went 2-for-2 and tied a career high with three runs in the game.

Louisville 6 - Radford 0
Senior Sidney Melton went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple with three RBIs to help lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-0 win against Radford in the War Eagle Challenge Saturday at Auburn's Jane B. Moore Field.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby (5-1) got the win in the circle, holding the Highlanders scoreless on seven hits and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Sophomore Kyra Snyder combined for the shutout, limiting Radford to one hit and striking out four in 3.0 inning of relief to pick up her save of the season. The game marked the third shutout in four games for the Cardinals.
Auburn 6 - Louisville 2
UofL fell 6-2 to No. 19/20 Auburn Saturday in the War Eagle Challenge.
• Junior Caitlin Ferguson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Cards at the plate.
• Danielle Watson took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits and striking out six in 6.0 innings.

Melton earns acc postgraduate scholarship

Sidney Melton was among 52 recipients of the 2019 Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship Award announced on Thursday by the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $6,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
•The student-athletes will be honored at the annual Cone Health ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Luncheon presented by ESPN on April 10. The luncheon will be hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel Imperial Ballroom in Greensboro, N.C.
er stroke average.
• A three-year starter, Melton was a 2018 All-ACC first team honoree after leading the Cardinals with a career-best 45 runs and finishing second on the team with 15 stolen bases. She was also a 2016 all-ACC tournament selection. The redshirt-senior infielder currently leads the team with 10 runs and stands ninth on Louisville's career list for runs (121) and stolen bases (36). Her success extends to the classroom as a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete and All-ACC Academic Team member while majoring in health and human performance and exercise science with minors in sport administration and psychology.

Young Cards

While the Cardinals have solid veteran leadership in the lineup some underclassmen are having an immediate impact early in their careers.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby carries a .316 batting average and is tied for the team lead with five wins in the circle.
• Freshman catcher Rebecca Chung leads the team three home runs and stands second with 15 RBIs. She also carries a team-best .605 slugging percentage and .456 on-base percentage.
• Freshman Charley Butler has started 19 games in left field and recently connected on her first career home run against Bradley (2/24).
• Freshman Cassady Greenwood is batting .333 on the season and has played in 12 games.
• Sophomores Maddy Newman and Kyra Snyder have started every game at second base and first base respectively while fellow sophomore Riley Schindler has started 15 games in right field.
• Sophomore Danielle Watson leads the team in the circle with 54 strikeouts in 55.1 innings and a .192 opponent batting average. She is tied for the team lead with five victories.

Hensley record Watch

Megan Hensley has entered Louisville's top career list in several categories.
• Tied for first for grand slams with four, along with Lacy Wood (2003-06).
• Fifth with nine career saves and needs one more to tie for fourth with Tori Collins (2009-12).
• SIxth in career RBI (148) needs nine more to move into a tie for fifth with Maryssa Becker (2014-17).
• Seventh in career appearances (104). Tori Collins (2009-12) stands sixth at 142.
• Seventh in career games started in the circle (73). Carlisa Connell (2011-14) is sixth with 98.
• Seventh in career innings pitched (482.2). Caralisa Connell is sixth with 608.0.
• Seventh in career wins (46). Jessica Rak (2000-03) stands in sixth place with 65 victories.
• Eighth in career home runs with 28 - needs one more to move into a tie for seventh with Alicja Wolny (2010-13).
• Eighth in career strikeouts (312), Aja Sherman (2002-05) is seventh with 463.
• Ninth in career complete games (31). Needs one more to move into a tie for eight with Tara McClure (2000-01).

Melton among career leaders in stolen bases...Senior third baseman Sidney Melton has six stolen bases on the season, increasing her career total to 39 which places her tied for sixth on Louisville's career list. She needs seven more to move into a tie for fourth with Candi Hicks (2004-07) and Kristin Austin (2009-12).

And runs scored

Melton recently increased her career run tally to 126 stands eighth on Louisville's all-time list in that category. She needs five more to tie for seventh with Chelsea Bemis (2008-11).
• Last year, the speedy infielder led the team with 45 runs and moved into a five-way tie for ninth place among the all-time single season leaders.

Funke - a triple threat

Junior Celene Funke has already ripped four triples in the first month of the season and leads the ACC in that category. The centerfielder has six in her career and is tied for 10th on Louisville's all-time list.

home sweet home

Louisville has compiled a 4-0 record at Ulmer Stadium this season after going undefeated in its home-opening Cardinal Classic. The Cardinals are slated to host 14 more games this season.

Louisville picked to finish fourth in ACC

The Cardinals were picked to finish fifth overall and third in the Atlantic Division. In the team preseason poll, reigning national champion Florida State was unanimously selected to win its sixth-straight ACC regular season title. Notre Dame, North Carolina and Pitt respectively filled out the top five ahead of the Cardinals, who are coming off of a 33-20 campaign and a 10-12 mark in conference play.
• In the Atlantic Division preseason standings, Louisville was picked to finish third behind Florida State and Notre Dame. Syracuse, Boston College and NC State round out the division.

2019 PRESEASON ACC COACHES POLL
1) Florida State (121 points, 11 first-place votes)
2) Notre Dame (102 points)
3) North Carolina (95 points)
4) Pitt (88 points)
5) Louisville (75 points)
6) Duke (69 points)
7) Georgia Tech (55 points)
8) Syracuse (51 points)
9) Boston College (47 points)
10) Virginia Tech (41 points, 1 first-place vote)
11) NC State (29 points)
12) Virginia (19 points)
Atlantic Division                Coastal Division
1) Florida State                   1) North Carolina
2) Notre Dame                    2) Pitt
3) Louisville                          3) Duke
4) Syracuse                           4) Georgia Tech
5) Boston College               5) Virginia Tech
6) NC State                           6) Virginia

Louisville celebrates 20th Season

The 2019 campaign marks the University of Louisville softball program's 20th season. Leading up to this season, UofL has compiled a 718-371 (.659) record with six conference championships, 13 NCAA regional appearances and four regional finals.

The road ahead

The Cardinals are embarking on a tough 2019 schedule which includes a total of 17 games against teams that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament – including national champion Florida State. UofL will also face six opponents ranked among the top 25 and six receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA polls.
• Louisville's ranked opponents include No. 1/1 Florida State, No. 7/8 Tennessee, No. 16/17 Indiana, No. 18/22 Kentucky, No. 19/20 Auburn, No. 23 Michigan and No. 25 Northwestern. Notre Dame, Cal State Fullerton, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech are also receiving votes in the coaches' polls.

Cards on the air

At the start of the 2019 season, the Cardinals will have 25 games televised nationally including one contest on ESPNU. The television slate feature all of the Cardinals' 19 home games.
• All 12 ACC institutions sponsoring softball will be featured multiple times throughout the season, with more than 220 games streaming on ACC Network Extra, Watch ESPN and the ESPN App. ESPN's broadcast schedule will include more than 650 college softball games.
• The Cardinals will appear on ESPN's ACC Monday on 6 for the third game of its ACC matchup against 2018 national champion and preseason ACC favorite Florida State.

Looking back to 2018

• The Cardinals finished the season with a 33-20 overall record and reached the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship before falling 7-4 to eventual national champion Florida State.
• Among the returners are National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region selections junior Caitlin Ferguson and Hensley as well as all-ACC honoree Melton and sophomore Maddy Newman, who earned 2018 all-ACC freshman team honors. Junior Celene Funke also returns after leading the team with a .355 batting average along with sophomore Danielle Watson who posted 14 wins in the circle during her freshman campaign.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Charley Butler

Rebecca Chung

Caitlin Ferguson

Celene Funke

Cassady Greenwood

Megan Hensley

Sidney Melton

Maddy Newman

Taylor Roby

Riley Schindler

Kyra Snyder

Danielle Watson

Jordyn Wolfe

University of Louisville Athletics