Cards Fall 10-7 to North Carolina

Saturday, April 27

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

32-17, 0

NORTH CAROLINA

33-15, 0

North Carolina

Louisville

April 27, 2019 | Softball

Box Score North Carolina 10 - Louisville 7

Cards tie season high with three home runs in the 10-7 loss

By: Dalton Ray

The University of Louisville softball team tied a season high with three home runs, but ultimately fell 10-7 to North Carolina in game two of an ACC series Saturday at Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium.

The Cardinals (32-17, 11-9) and the Tar Heels (33-15, 17-6) will wrap up the series Sunday at 12 p.m.

"I thought we were better today," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We came out with some better game plans and we executed better. I think we still just have a few tweaks to make. They are executing at a higher rate than us, they're having more quality at bats than we are. I thought we played well on defense, we just have to be able to put a few more things together. We'll come out and give them a good fight tomorrow."

Louisville recorded nine hits from seven different players. Senior Darrianne Hale went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and junior Caitlin Ferguson went 2-for-3 at the plate. Hale, senior Megan Hensley and sophomore Kyra Snyder each had a home run, marking the most the Tar Heels have allowed this year.

Redshirt sophomore Taylor Roby (13-2) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 1.1 innings.

The Cardinals started off the day on a high note by jumping to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when senior Sidney Melton reached on an error and stole second. Roby followed with an RBI single to put Louisville on the scoreboard.

The Tar Heels cashed in four hits and two walks to put up a five-spot in the second.

In the bottom of the third, Hale put the Cards within one run on a moonshot to center field. The three-run homer was Hale's first during her UofL career.

North Carolina answered in the top of the fourth behind Brittany Pickett's two-run homer which made the score 7-4.

Once again, the Cards countered in the fifth. This time, Melton kicked off the offense with her second single and stolen base of the game. Hensley's team-best 10th home run of the year brought the score to 7-6.

Carolina widened the gap with three more runs to take a 10-6 lead in the top of the seventh.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Snyder kept the Cardinals alive with a solo shot to right center for her third homer of the season to bring the final score to 10-7.

The Cardinals will close out the series against the Tar Heels Sunday, April 28 at 12 p.m.

Prior to the game, Louisville recognized their five seniors in Blaire Bass, Madison Cousineau, Darrianne Hale, Megan Hensley and Sidney Melton.

"It's been a pleasure to coach them this year," said Aprile. "Getting a new coach and a new staff, it's a difficult thing, but they've done a great job of adapting. They've been very coachable and a great group."

Notes following Saturday's North Carolina game:
• Series North Carolina now leads the series 8-6
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 91 stolen bases on 105 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68 (95 attempts), set in the 2010 season
• Louisville has a 15-5 record at Ulmer Stadium in 2019.

Player Notes
• Sidney Melton has reached safely in the last 13 games
• Melton also leads the team with a career-high 27 stolen bases and stands tied for second with Audrey Rendon (2008) on Louisville's single season list. She needs one more to tie Coleen Coughlin (2000) for first.
• She now has 60 stolen bases in her career, placing her tied for second with Jennifer Esteban (2010-12). Audrey Rendon (2004-07) holds the record with 82.
• Megan Hensley now has 35 career home runs and stands fourth on Louisville's all-time list.
She needs one more to tie Melissa Roth (2007-10) for third.
• Hensley extends her career RBI total to 168 and stands third on Louisville's all-time list. She needs six more to move into a tie for second with Courtney Moore (2004-07).