Cardinals Travel to Boston College

The University of Louisville softball team will hit the road for Boston College for a three-game ACC series this weekend.

WEEKEND INFORMATION
Opponent: Boston College
Date: Friday, April 12, 6 p.m.| Saturday, April 13, 1 p.m. | Sunday, April 14, 12 p.m.
Location: Brighton, Mass., Harrington Athletics Village
Television: ACC Network Extra
Live scoring: BCEagles.com
Twitter Updates: @UofLSoftball

Cardinal Quick Hits
• Louisville enters the game with a 25-14 overall record and a 6-6 mark in ACC play. The Cards are tied for third with Syracuse in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State (9-3) and Notre Dame (7-5).
• UofL is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball coaches poll released on April 9.
• The Cards are coming off of an ACC series-clinching win over No. 3/3 Florida State. In that game, Rebecca Chung's walk-off, three-run double lifted Louisville to a 10-9 win. UofL took the first game 2-0, behind Danielle Watson's one-hit shutout and Megan Hensley's two-run homer. FSU evened the series with a 4-1 win in game two. It marked the Seminoles' first conference series loss since 2012 - a streak of 52.
• UofL is led at the plate by freshman Taylor Roby who is batting .342 (25-for-73). She also carries a team-best 1.72 ERA and has three saves.
• Junior Celene Funke has a career-high nine triples and stands tied for first in the nation with CSU Bakersfield's Cydney Curran.
• Sidney Melton leads the team with a career-high 19 stolen bases. She set a school record with four stolen bases in the 8-0 win over Morehead State on March 12.
• Hensley leads the pitching staff with a 9-3 record.
• Current ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week Danielle Watson paces the pitching staff with 112 strikeouts in 106.2 innings and carries a .208 opponent batting average.
• 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 is 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

Boston College |April 12-14 | Brighton, Mass.
Series Record: UL leads 5-3
Last Meeting: April 27-28, 2018 - Louisville swept a three-game series at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards opened the set with a 4-2 win and followed with a 3-2 victory in game two. Louisville completed the sweep with an 8-0 win in the series finale.
• Megan Hensley started all three games in the circle and picked up three wins to help Louisville clinch a spot in the 2018 ACC tournament. Hensley posted a 0.43 ERA against the Eagles, allowing three runs, one earned, and striking out seven. She surrendered 14 hits to hold the Eagles to a .230 batting average while tossing 16.1 out of 19 total innings for the Cardinals. Hensley completed the weekend with a complete game shutout
• Hensley used a pair of home runs to account for all four RBIs in the 4-2 series opener against Boston College. She went on to drive in two more including the game-winning run in the 3-2 victory to clinch the series against the Eagles and capped the weekend with two more RBIs in the 8-0 win to help the Cards complete the sweep.
Scouting the Eagles: BC entered the week with a 11-23 overall record prior to midweek games against UConn and UMass. The Eagles carry a 3-9 record against ACC opponents and stand tied for fifth in the Atlantic Division.
•BC is led by Lexi DiEmmanuele, who is hitting .357 with 20 runs and 10 stolen bases.
• Gianna Boccagno has belted out a team-best six home runs while Emme Martinez has driven in 20.
• Susannah Anderson (4-12) carries a 3.52 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 115.1 innings while Camryn Dolby (7-8) has a 5.74 ERA with 81 Ks in 68.1 innings of work.

Up Next

The Cardinals will return to Ulmer Stadium to face in-state rival No. 23/24 Kentucky in a midweek contest on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m.

Watson Named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week

Danielle Watson was named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week for the period ending April 7. This marks the sophomore's first conference weekly honor.
• Watson posted a 0.00 ERA on the week surrendering only one unearned run and two hits for a .053 opp. batting average and striking out 13 in 12.0 innings of work.
• The Osceola, Ind., native posted a complete game one-hit shutout and struck out seven in Louisville's 2-0 upset of No. 3/3 Florida State which entered the weekend ranked second in the nation in batting average and third in home runs. In that game, she retired 10 Seminole batters at one point and 16 of the last 18 to end the game and halt the Seminoles' 10-game win streak. Watson also pitched 6.1 innings in a 10-9 win against Florida State on Monday.
• In Louisville's midweek 7-2 win at Western Kentucky, Watson struck out three as she retired all six batters she faced in the final two innings. She also connected on her first career home run in that game.
Watson now leads the team with 112 strikeouts in 106.2 innings and a .213 opponent batting average.

Up Last

Louisville 10 - No. 3/3 Florida State 9
Freshman Rebecca Chung's three-run double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh lifted the University of Louisville softball team to a 10-9 win over No. 3/3 Florida State. With the win the Cards clinch the series, marking the Seminoles' first conference series loss since 2012.
• Chung's walk-off double capped seventh inning that featured a combined nine runs as reigning national champion Florida State tallied six runs to overcome a 7-3 deficit and take a 9-7 lead entering the home half of the inning.
• In a rollercoaster game that featured four lead changes and a tie, the Cardinals outhit the Seminoles 10-8 with four of those hits falling in for extra bases.
Louisville 2 - No. 3/3 Florida State 0
Danielle Watson tossed a one-hit complete-game shutout and senior Megan Hensley backed her with a two-run home run as the Cardinals upset No. 3/3 Florida State in game one of an ACC doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium.
Louisville 2 – No. 3/3 Florida State 0
Watson turned in a solid performance in a pitcher's duel, striking out seven and notching her second complete game one-hitter of the season.
• The Cards jumped to an early lead when Celene Funke opened the home half of the first with a single and, one out later, Hensley crushed a shot over the centerfield fence. Her team-best fifth homer of the season gave Louisville a 2-0 lead. The senior's home run stood as the game-winning hit and the senior would later register a single in the sixth to finish the contest with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.
• Meghan King took the loss, giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out five in 4.0 innings.
No. 3/3 Florida State 4 – Louisville 1
In game two of Saturday's doubleheader, senior Sidney Melton paced the Cardinals offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and scored a run, but Florida State prevailed 4-1.
• Hensley took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and striking out two in 2.1 innings of work. Freshman Taylor Roby came on in relief and gave up one earned run on one hit.
• Herzog picked up the win after holding the Cards scoreless on two hits in 4.0 innings. King gave up an earned run on two hits and struck out four to earn the save in 3.0 innings of relief.

Notes after the Florida State Series

• This marks the first time the Cardinals have won a series against Florida State – and a top-five team.
• Chung caught four Florida State runners attempting to steal in the game.
• Louisville is now 12-4 at Ulmer Stadium this season.
• Butler is now on a five-game hitting streak.
• With her run in the game, Melton increases her career run total to 137. She currently stands seventh on Louisville's all-time list, needing one more to tie Jennifer Esteban (2010-13) for sixth.
• Melton also pushed her career triple total to seven and moves into a tie for 10th (with Esteban) on Louisville's all-time list.

Funke - a Triple Force

Junior Celene Funke is tied for first in the NCAA with nine triples on the season. She stands second among Louisville's single season leaders and needs one more to tie Audrey Rendon (2005) for first.
• The centerfielder has 11 in her career and is tied for fourth on Louisville's all-time list. She needs three more to move into a tie for third with Courtney Moore (2004-07).
• She also has two home runs on the season.

Hitting for Average

Louisville's starting lineup features five players who are batting over .300 on the season. Freshman Taylor Roby leads the way at .342. Redshirt senior Sidney Melton and freshman Rebecca Chung are tied for second at .333. Junior Celene Funke (.316) and senior Megan Hensley (.304) round out the top hitters.

Balanced Pitching

All three of Louisville's starting pitchers have evenly contributed to the team's success in the circle.
• Megan Hensley (9-3) leads the team in wins and with four shutouts. She stands second among UofL's starting pitchers with 76 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.
• Taylor Roby (8-1) carries a team-best 1.72 ERA and three saves. She stands third on the team with 44 Ks in 60.1 innings.
• Danielle Watson (8-10) is holding opponents to a .213 average. She leads the Cardinals with 112 strikeouts in 106.2 innings.

Chung on Patrol

Freshman Rebecca Chung has had a stellar rookie season at the plate, but she has also made her mark behind the plate. The catcher recently set a school record when she threw out a career-high four would-be base stealers in Louisville's 10-9 win against No. 3/3 Florida State on April 8.
• She also drove in the game-winning run with a walk-off three-run doubles with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Hensley is a Dual Threat

For the fourth straight season, Megan Hensley stands among the Cardinals' leaders both in the circle and at the plate. The senior carries a team-best 9-3 record and five home runs and stands second on the team with 26 RBIs.
• She ranked among UofL's top 10 in several pitching and hitting categories.

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 (155) needs two more to move into a tie for fifth with Maryssa Becker (2014-17).
• Seventh in career home runs with 30 - needs one more to move into a tie for sixth with Maryssa Becker (2014-17).
• Seventh in career appearances (114). Tori Collins (2009-12) stands sixth at 142.
• Seventh in career games started in the circle (80). Carlisa Connell (2011-14) is sixth with 98.
• Seventh in career innings pitched (513.0). Caralisa Connell is sixth with 608.0.
• Seventh in career wins (50). Jessica Rak (2000-03) stands in sixth place with 65 victories.
• Eighth in career strikeouts (357), Aja Sherman (2002-05) is seventh with 463.
• Tied for eighth in career complete games (32). Needs nine more to move into a tie for seventh with Aja Sherman (2002-05).
• Tied for tenth in career complete shutouts (10). Needs three more to move into a tie for seventh with Caralisa Connell (2011-14).

Young Cards

While the Cardinals have solid veteran leadership in the lineup some underclassmen are having an immediate impact early in their careers with as many as five in the starting lineup at times.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby leads the team with a 1.72 ERA and three saves. She also leads the team at the plate with a .342 batting average.
• Freshman catcher Rebecca Chung leads the team with 27 RBI and is tied for second with a .333 batting average. She was named ACC Softball Co-Player of the Week on March 17.
• Freshman Charley Butler has started 34 games in left field and has two home runs. She has made some outstanding defensively plays and was recently among ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 Plays (No. 8) after a diving catch in foul territory for an out in the 10-9 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (4/8).
• Freshman Cassady Greenwood is batting has played in 24 games with four starts.
• Sophomores Maddy Newman and Kyra Snyder have started every game at second base and first base respectively.
• Fellow sophomore Riley Schindler has started 25 games in the outfield.
• Sophomore Danielle Watson leads the team in the circle with 112 strikeouts in 106.2 innings and a .213 opposing batting average. She was named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week on April 9 after tossing a complete-game shutout in Louisville's 2-0 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (4/6).

Melton Stealing Away

Sidney Melton set a school record with four stolen bases in the 8-0 win over Morehead State on March 12.
•The senior infielder leads the team with 19 stolen bases on the season, and stands tied for fifth on Louisville's single season list. She needs one more to move into a tie for fourth with Coleen Coughlin (2000-01)
• She now has 52 stolen bases in her career, placing her third on Louisville's all-time list and needs eight more to move into a tie for second with Jennifer Esteban (2010-12).

Melton on a Scoring Run

Melton recently increased her career run tally to 137 stands seventh on Louisville's all-time list in that category. She needs one more to tie for sixth with Jennifer Esteban (2010-13).
• 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.

Home Sweet Home

Louisville has compiled an 11-3 record at Ulmer Stadium this season. The Cards went 4-0 in their home-opening Cardinal Classic and followed with a doubleheader sweep of Morehead State. UofL continued it perfect home record by taking the first two games of the ACC series against Syracuse but fell 4-2 in eight innings to the Orange. The Cards resumed their winning ways with a 5-2 victory over Indiana. Louisville suffered another extra-inning setback on Tuesday when Lipscomb prevailed 5-4 in eight. Louisville's fourth loss came at the hands of No. 3/3 Florida State on April 6.

Chung Tabbed ACC Co-Player of the Week

Rebecca Chung was named ACC Co-Player of the Week for the period ending on March 17.
• She becomes the first Louisville player to earn the league's weekly honor this season.
• Chung (Torrance, Calif) helped lead the Cardinals at the plate as they compiled a 4-1 record on the week. The freshman catcher batted .615 (8-for-13) with a double, a run and seven RBIs and posted a .600 on-base percentage.
• She had at least one hit in every game, extending her hitting streak to nine games and her on-base streak to 10. Chung also collected RBIs in three of five games, including a pair of three-RBI performances - one in the 21-1 win over Morehead State on Tuesday and again in the 8-0 win over Syracuse to clinch the ACC series.

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.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Charley Butler

Rebecca Chung

Celene Funke

Cassady Greenwood

Megan Hensley

Sidney Melton

Maddy Newman

Taylor Roby

Riley Schindler

Kyra Snyder

Danielle Watson

University of Louisville Athletics