Cards Drop Series Finale at No. 24/19 Virginia Tech

Sunday, March 31

Blacksburg, VA

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Virginia Tech

Caitlin Ferguson gets ready to throw ball in game against WKU at Ulmer Stadium on October 13

Photo by: Jermaine Bibb | Louisville Athletics

March 31, 2019 | Softball

Box Score

Louisville attempts to rally late in the game, but Virginia Tech clinches the series with a 13-5 win

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville softball team fell 13-5 in six innings to No. 24/19 Virginia Tech in the deciding game of an ACC series Sunday afternoon at Tech Softball Park. The Cardinals (22-12, 4-5 ACC) will return to action on Tuesday when they play host to Lipscomb at Ulmer Stadium at 5 p.m.

Freshman Charley Butler drove in a pair of runs and junior Caitlin Ferguson connected on a home run as the Cardinals attempted to rally late in the game, but a two-run homer by Virginia Tech's Emma Strouth in the sixth put the game away.

Virginia Tech (30-5, 10-2) took an early lead when two walks and a single loaded the bases for Kelsey Bennett's two-run single. A three run shot by Caitlyn Nolan brought the score to 5-0.

The Hokies used an RBI single, two home runs and an error to score six more runs in the fourth.

The Cards countered with four runs in the fourth. Redshirt senior Sidney Melton led off the frame with a bunt single, took second on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a hit by Megan Hensley. Sophomore Kyra Snyder was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for a senior Madison Cousineau's RBI double. Butler followed with a double of her own to plate Snyder and Cousineau, bringing the score to 11-4.

Ferguson continued the Cardinals' offense when she opened the sixth inning by launching her third home run of the season over the left field fence to make it an 11-5 game.

Emma Strouth's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth brought the final score to 13-5.

Sophomore Danielle Watson (7-9) took the loss, surrendering 13 runs, 11 earned, and striking out five in five innings of work.

Virginia Tech's Keely Rochard (13-3) picked up the win after giving up five earned runs on five hits and striking out eight. Nolan paced the Hokies with a 2-for-3, four RBI performance at the plate.

NOTES:

Melton is now on a six-game hitting streak.
Melton leads the team with a career-high 18 stolen bases, and stands tied for seventh on Louisville's single season list. She needs one more to move into a three-way tie for fifth with Jennifer Esteban (2011) and Kenzie Meisenburg (2001).
- Melton also pushed her all-time total to 51 stolen bases. She stands at No. 3 on Louisville's career list, needing nine more to tie Jennifer Esteban (2010-13) for second.
Melton also has 23 runs on the season and 133 in her career, placing her seventh on Louisville's all-time list. She needs five more to move into a tie for sixth with Esteban.
Snyder has reached base safely in nine straight games.