Lipscomb Edges Louisville 5-4 in Eight Innings

Tuesday, April 2

LOUISVILLE, KY

5:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

22-13

LIPSCOMB

24-12-1

Lipscomb

Louisville

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

April 02, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Lipscomb 5 - Louisville 4 Photo Gallery

Cards rally to erase a 4-1 deficit, but fall 5-4 in eight innings

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville softball team erased a 4-1 deficit with freshman Charley Butler's two-run single in the fourth and senior Megan Hensley's home run in the bottom of the seventh, but fell 5-4 to Lipscomb in eight innings Tuesday evening at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville (22-13) will return to action Wednesday with a road trip to Western Kentucky.

Hensley had two RBIs, including a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but a bases-loaded wild pitch in the eighth lifted Lipscomb to a 5-4 win.

The Cards (22-13) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first when redshirt senior Sidney Melton singled, stole second and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Megan Hensley.

The Lady Bisons (24-12-1) quickly answered in the top of the second when Sarah Higgins reached on an error and Jenna Pealor followed with a two-run homer to give Lipscomb a 2-1 lead.

Lipscomb added a run in the third when Hannah Devault connected on an RBI double to plate Jordan Fortel who had reached on a one-out walk.

The fourth inning brought another Bison run after Amy Vetula singled, and moved to second on Destinee Brewer's fielder's choice. A passed ball moved her to third and she crossed the plate on a hit by Graysen Gladden to extend Lipscomb's lead to 4-1.

The Cards cut the deficit to one behind freshman Charley Butler's two-run single in the fifth. Junior Caitlin Ferguson delivered a leadoff hit and moved to third on sophomore Kyra Snyder's double to put two runners in scoring position for Butler, who drove a single to right field, scoring Ferguson and pinch runner Jordyn Wolfe and making the score 4-3.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Hensley took a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right center field. Her team-best fourth home run of the season evened the score at 4-4.

The Lady Bisons countered in the eighth inning, using a hit, a walk and an error to load the bases. A wild pitch sent Khayla Green home to put Lipscomb back on top 5-4.

Lipscomb reliever Mandy Jordan (9-7) would go on to retire the Cardinals in order in the eighth to get the win.

Danielle Watson (7-10) took the loss, allowing one earned run on one hit and striking out three in 3.0 innings of relief. Snyder helped pace the Cardinals with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

NOTES:

With her home run, Hensley improves her career total to 29 and moves into a tie for seventh with Alicja Wolny (2010-13) on Louisville's all-time list. She needs two more to tie Kristi Cunningham (2006-09) for sixth.
Hensley also moved her career RBI tally to 153. She is currently sixth on Louisville's career list and needs four more to tie Maryssa Becker (2014-17) for fifth.
Melton is now on seven-game hitting streak.
Melton leads the team with a career-high 19 stolen bases and moves into a three-way tie for fifth on Louisville's single-season record list. She needs one more to move into a tie for fourth with Coleen Coughling (2001).
- Melton now has 52 in her career and stands third on UofL's all-time list, needing eight more to tie Jennifer Esteban for second.
With her run in tonight's game, Melton moves her career total to 134. She is seventh on Louisville's all-time list and needs four more to tie Esteban (2010-13) for sixth.
Snyder has reached base safely in 10 straight games