Saturday, March 27
LOUISVILLE, KY
12:00 P.M.
University of Louisville
9-13, 0
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VIRGINIA TECH
18-4, 0
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5
6
7
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H
E
Virginia Tech
0
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6
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Louisville
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Photo by: Carl Schmid | Louisville Athletics
Hurst's Home Runs Send Cards Past No. 19/16 Virginia Tech in Doubleheader Split
March 27, 2021 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Makayla Hurst connected on a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the sixth to lift the University of Louisville softball team to a 3-2 win over No. 19/16 Virginia Tech in the second game of an ACC doubleheader Saturday at Ulmer Stadium. The Hokies took the first game of the day 2-0.
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The teams will wrap up the four-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
"I thought we really battled at the plate today," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "I thought the first game, it was challenging facing one of the best – if not the best pitcher in the country. We really worked to have better at bats and I thought we did a good job on the defensive end and pitching in both games, which allowed us to be in both games and battle and get that win in the second game. I'm just really proud of the adjustments we made offensively against some very good pitching."
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Hurst led the Cardinals (9-13, 3-8 ACC) at the plate in Saturday's doubleheader, going 3-for-6 with two home runs and three RBIs. The 3-2 win marks the first against a top-20 opponent since February 29, 2019 when the Cardinals took down No. 10/10 Oregon 4-3 in the OSU/Tulsa Invitational.
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Virginia Tech 2 - Louisville 0
In the first game of the day, the teams played through five scoreless innings before Virginia Tech (18-5, 12-5 ACC) broke through with two unearned runs in the sixth inning. A two-base error allowed Addy Greene to reach second and Kelsey Brown followed with a single. With runners on second and third, Morgan Overaitis delivered a sacrifice fly to push the first run across, and a sacrifice bunt by Grace Chavez extended the lead to 2-0.
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The Cardinals' best chance to score came in the in the bottom of the second when Hurst and Cassady Greenwood delivered a back-to-back single. Charley Butler loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch but two consecutive strikeouts by Keely Rochard ended the threat. The Virginia Tech starting pitcher would go on to retire the next 17 batters she en route to the win.
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Redshirt junior Taylor Roby (5-6) took the loss giving up seven hits and two unearned runs in seven innings.
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Rochard dealt 12 strikeouts scattered two hits in a complete game effort. Kelsey Brown paced the Hokies at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases.
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Louisville 3 - Virginia Tech 2
In the nightcap, Virginia Tech took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Kelsey Brown reached on an infield single and Addy Green's base hit pushed her to third. Brown crossed the plate on Jayme Bailey's sacrifice fly. A passed ball followed by a wild pitch plated Green.
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The Cardinals countered in the fourth inning when Hurst smashed solo home run over the fence in left centerfield.
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After a scoreless fifth inning, Louisville struck again in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Roby connected on a one-out single and was lifted for pinch-runner Jennifer Leonhardt to set up Hurst, who crushed a shot over the left field fence for her second homer of the game, giving the Cards a 3-2 lead.
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The Hokies used a leadoff hit and a pair of groundouts to move a runner to third in the top of the seventh, but Roby and the Cardinals' defense held strong to preserve the victory.
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Roby (6-5) earned the win giving up just two hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Freshman Gabby Holloway scattered two hits and gave up two runs in 5.0 innings.
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Hurst collected all three of Louisville's RBIs and joined Carmyn Greenwood, and Taylor Roby to lead the Cardinals with two hits apiece.
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Keely Rochard (14-2) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on two hits and striking out three in 1.0 inning of relief.
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The teams will wrap up the four-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
"I thought we really battled at the plate today," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "I thought the first game, it was challenging facing one of the best – if not the best pitcher in the country. We really worked to have better at bats and I thought we did a good job on the defensive end and pitching in both games, which allowed us to be in both games and battle and get that win in the second game. I'm just really proud of the adjustments we made offensively against some very good pitching."
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Hurst led the Cardinals (9-13, 3-8 ACC) at the plate in Saturday's doubleheader, going 3-for-6 with two home runs and three RBIs. The 3-2 win marks the first against a top-20 opponent since February 29, 2019 when the Cardinals took down No. 10/10 Oregon 4-3 in the OSU/Tulsa Invitational.
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Virginia Tech 2 - Louisville 0
In the first game of the day, the teams played through five scoreless innings before Virginia Tech (18-5, 12-5 ACC) broke through with two unearned runs in the sixth inning. A two-base error allowed Addy Greene to reach second and Kelsey Brown followed with a single. With runners on second and third, Morgan Overaitis delivered a sacrifice fly to push the first run across, and a sacrifice bunt by Grace Chavez extended the lead to 2-0.
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The Cardinals' best chance to score came in the in the bottom of the second when Hurst and Cassady Greenwood delivered a back-to-back single. Charley Butler loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch but two consecutive strikeouts by Keely Rochard ended the threat. The Virginia Tech starting pitcher would go on to retire the next 17 batters she en route to the win.
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Redshirt junior Taylor Roby (5-6) took the loss giving up seven hits and two unearned runs in seven innings.
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Rochard dealt 12 strikeouts scattered two hits in a complete game effort. Kelsey Brown paced the Hokies at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases.
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Louisville 3 - Virginia Tech 2
In the nightcap, Virginia Tech took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Kelsey Brown reached on an infield single and Addy Green's base hit pushed her to third. Brown crossed the plate on Jayme Bailey's sacrifice fly. A passed ball followed by a wild pitch plated Green.
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The Cardinals countered in the fourth inning when Hurst smashed solo home run over the fence in left centerfield.
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After a scoreless fifth inning, Louisville struck again in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Roby connected on a one-out single and was lifted for pinch-runner Jennifer Leonhardt to set up Hurst, who crushed a shot over the left field fence for her second homer of the game, giving the Cards a 3-2 lead.
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The Hokies used a leadoff hit and a pair of groundouts to move a runner to third in the top of the seventh, but Roby and the Cardinals' defense held strong to preserve the victory.
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Roby (6-5) earned the win giving up just two hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Freshman Gabby Holloway scattered two hits and gave up two runs in 5.0 innings.
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Hurst collected all three of Louisville's RBIs and joined Carmyn Greenwood, and Taylor Roby to lead the Cardinals with two hits apiece.
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Keely Rochard (14-2) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on two hits and striking out three in 1.0 inning of relief.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keely Rochard (14-1)
L: Roby, Taylor (5-6)
Batting:
2B: Addy Greene 1
RBI: Morgan Overaitis 1 ; Grace Chavez 1
SH: Grace Chavez 1
SF: Morgan Overaitis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelsey Brown 1 ; Addy Greene 1
SB: Kelsey Brown 2 ; Emma Ritter 1
Base Running:
SB: Ornelas, Elana 1
HBP: Butler, Charley 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballUT/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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