University of Louisville
22-12, 4-5
Virginia Tech
30-5, 10-2
Cards Drop Series Finale at No. 24/19 Virginia Tech
March 31, 2019 | Softball
Louisville attempts to rally late in the game, but Virginia Tech clinches the series with a 13-5 win
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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.
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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.
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The Hokies used an RBI single, two home runs and an error to score six more runs in the fourth.
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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.
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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.
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Emma Strouth's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth brought the final score to 13-5.
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Sophomore Danielle Watson (7-9) took the loss, surrendering 13 runs, 11 earned, and striking out five in five innings of work.
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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.
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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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keely Rochard (13-3)
L: Watson, Danielle (7-9)
Batting:
2B: Cousineau, Madison 1 ; Butler, Charley 1
HR: Ferguson, Caitlin 1
RBI: Hensley, Megan 1 ; Ferguson, Caitlin 1 ; Cousineau, Madison 1 ; Butler, Charley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Melton, Sidney 1 ; Hensley, Megan 1 ; Ferguson, Caitlin 1 ; Snyder, Kyra 1 ; Cousineau, Madison 1
SB: Melton, Sidney 1
HBP: Snyder, Kyra 2
Batting:
2B: Jayme Bailey 1
HR: Al Velazquez 1 ; Emma Strouth 1 ; Caitlyn Nolan 1 ; Mackenzie Lawter 1
RBI: Al Velazquez 1 ; Emma Strouth 2 ; Kelsey Bennett 2 ; Caitlyn Nolan 4 ; Mackenzie Lawter 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Al Velazquez 2 ; Darby Trull 2 ; Jayme Bailey 3 ; Emma Strouth 1 ; Kelsey Bennett 1 ; Kinsey Johnson 1 ; Caitlyn Nolan 1 ; Meredith Slaw 1 ; Mackenzie Lawter 1
SB: Kinsey Johnson 1
