Late-Inning Offense Falls Short in ACC Pod Weekend Doubleheader at NC State

Friday, February 19

Raleigh, N.C.

2:00 PM

University of Louisville

0-3, 0

NC State

2-1, 0

NC State

Louisville

Photo by: Chris Downey

Late-Inning Offense Falls Short in ACC Pod Weekend Doubleheader at NC State

February 19, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Lori Harmon

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team lost to host NC State in an ACC doubleheader Friday at Dail Stadium on Friday in the ACC Pod Weekend. The Cardinals fell 8-4 in the first game and were edged 4-3 in the second. Taylor Roby lead the Cards at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs on the day.

UofL (0-4, 0-2 ACC) will return to action on Saturday when the Cards take on Virginia at 11 a.m. and NC State at 3 p.m.

NC State 8 – Louisville 4
In the first game of the day, Roby went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and Celene Funke went 2-for-4 to pace the Cardinals offensively, but three home runs by NC State helped key the Wolfpack to an 8-4 win in the ACC opener.

NC State (2-1, 2-1 ACC) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sam Russ drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came home on a double by Angie Rizzi. Logan Morris' RBI single plated Rizzi.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the first when redshirt senior Carmyn Greenwood drew a one-out walk. Roby stepped up to the plate and drove a shot off the top of the fence in right centerfield for her first home run of the season, tying the game at 2-2.

A two-run homer by April Visser in the third and Russ's two-run homer in the fourth pushed the lead to 6-2. The fifth inning brought another run for the Wolfpack when Logan Morris led off the frame with a solo shot to make the score 7-2.

In the sixth inning, NC State added another run behind an RBI single by Rizzo, increasing the lead to 8-2.

The Cards got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Roby singled and was lifted for pinch runner Charley Butler took second when Taryn Weddle was hit by a pitch. Jennifer Leonhardt's groundout moved the runners. Maddy Newman's infield single plated Butler and Weddle scored on Hurst's fielder's choice to cut the lead to 8-4.

Funke led off the seventh with a double and Roby walked, but the Cards would get no closer, stranding both runners for a total of seven in the game.

Roby (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out two in 3.0 innings. Leonhardt gave up four earned runs on four hits and struck out four in 3.0 innings of relief and Payton Hudson allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning.

Abby Trahan (2-1) picked up the win, giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out five in 5.0 innings. Rizzi led the Wolfpack at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

NC State 4 – Louisville 3
In the second game of the ACC-opening doubleheader, Roby went 2-for-4 and drove in all three Louisville runs as NC State built an early 3-0 lead and withstood a late-inning Louisville rally to prevail 4-3.

The Wolfpack got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Visser. Logan Morris followed with a home run to give NC State a 3-0 lead.

Roby crushed a shot over the left field wall to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, making the score 3-1. The home run was the second of the day for the redshirt junior.

The Wolfpack got the run back in the sixth with Carson Shaner's leadoff home run which made it a 4-1 game.

Louisville continued its late-inning offense with two runs in the seventh. Gabby Holloway earned a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch runner Jenna Servi, who was safe at second on Carmyn Greenwood's fielder's choice. Roby singled both runners home to pull the Cards within a run. An error allowed Cassady Greenwood to reach, and placed the tying run in scoring position, but a flyout ended the game.

Gabby Holloway (0-1) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and striking out two in 5. Innings. Hudson held the Wolfpack in check, retiring all three batters she faced while striking out one in 1.0 inning.

Sydney Nester (1-0) got the win, surrendering three runs, one earned, on four this and striking out seven in a complete game effort.