Cards Fall Short in Series Opener at NC State 4-3

Friday, May 3

Raleigh, NC

6:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

33-18, 12-10

NC State

27-26, 7-15

Louisville

NC State

Photo by: Jermaine Bibb | Louisville Athletics

May 03, 2019 | Softball

Box Score NC State 4 - Louisville 3

Melton sets UofL single season record for stolen bases, Funke delivers school-record 11th triple of the season

By: Lori Korte

A late-inning rally fell short as the University of Louisville softball team lost its ACC series opener to 4-3 NC State Friday at Dail Softball Stadium.

Saturday's game has been moved to 1 p.m. due to rain in the forecast.

After falling behind 4-1 Cardinals fell behind 4-1 through five innings, the Cardinals (33-18, 12-10 ACC) scored a run in the sixth, added a run in the seventh and had the go-ahead run on first, but came up short in the 4-3 loss.

Redshirt senior Sidney Melton scored a run, had an RBI and registered her school-record 29^th stolen base of the season while junior Celene Funke scored a run and set UofL's single-season mark with her 11^th triple of the year.

NC State (27-26, 7-15) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first behind a two-run homer by Lauren Morris.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the fourth when junior Celene Funke delivered Louisville's first hit of the game with her 11^th triple of the season. Redshirt senior Sidney Melton's RBI groundout plated Funke to cut the lead in half.

The Wolfpack used another two-run home run – this time from Skylar Johnston after a single by Morris – to extend its lead to 4-1.

Louisville countered with a run in the sixth when Melton walked and proceeded to steal second for her school-record 29^th stolen base of the season. After taking third on senior Megan Hensley's groundout, she crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make the score 4-2.

The Cards continued to chip away at the lead with a run in the seventh when Snyder single and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls before a wild pitch sent her home to cut the lead to one run. Junior Caitlin Ferguson drew a walk and freshman Cassady Greenwood was hit by a pitch to but the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on first, but Louisville would get no closer.

Danielle Watson (11-13) took the loss, after giving up four earned runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings.

Devin Wallace (11-15) picked up the win, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and striking out one in a complete game effort. Morris paced the Wolfpack with a 2-for-3, two run, two RBI performance at the plate.

TEAM NOTES:
• Louisville leads the series with NC State 10-4
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 94 stolen bases on 108 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68 (95 attempts), set in the 2010 season.
• UofL has tallied an ACC-best 29 triples. The total ranks third on the program's all-time record list, needing two more to tie for first with the 2005 Cardinals.
PLAYER NOTES:
• Sidney Melton has reached safely in the last 15 games
• Melton also leads the team with a career-high 29 stolen bases and surpassed Coleen Coughlin (2000) to take over the top spot on Louisville's single season list.
• She now has 62 stolen bases in her career, placing her second on Louisville's all-time list. Audrey Rendon (2004-07) holds the school record with 82.
• Melton now has 151 career runs and stands in fifth place on Louisville's all-time list. She needs seven more to move into a tie for fourth with Rendon.
• Funke takes sole possession of Louisville's single season record for triples with 11. She extends her career tally to 13 and is tied for third on the all-time list with Courtney Moore (2004-07).
• Kyra Snyder has reached safely in 12 straight games.