Cards Fall Short in Series Opener at NC State

Friday, April 1

Raleigh, NC

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

18-14, 2-5

NC State

24-12, 4-9

Louisville

NC State

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

April 01, 2022 | Softball

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team fell 7-5 to host NC State in the opening game of an ACC series Friday evening at Dail Stadium.

Louisville (18-14, 2-5 ACC) and NC State (24-12, 4-9) will continue the series Saturday at 1 p.m.

Carmyn Greenwood went 2-for-4 with a home run and Korbe Otis went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI to help pace the Cardinals at the plate. Taylor Roby and Dylann Cravens also added homers for Louisville.

The game featured a pitchers' duel with Louisville's Taylor Roby allowing only one hit and striking out four and NC State's Aisha Weixlmann keeping the Cardinals out of the hit column and fanning five.

The offense got started in the fourth inning when Roby sent the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence for her team-best 11th home run of the season. Kendall Smith followed with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Sydney Bickel who proceeded to steal second and then scored on an RBI hit by Korbe Otis. The Cardinals' offense continued with Dylann Cravens connected her first collegiate home run, a two-out, two-run shot over centerfield, extending the lead to 4-0.

NC State countered with four runs in the home half of the fourth, using two walks, a wild pitch and a three-run homer by Brittany Jackson to even the score at 4-4.

The Cardinals' defense kept an NC State off of the scoreboard in the fifth when Randi Farricker singled and moved to third on Sam Sack's base hit. Louisville right fielder Vanessa Miller teamed with Alexander at shortstop and third baseman Jenna Servi to catch Farricker in a rundown between third and home plate to end the inning and keep the game tied at 4-4.

The Wolfpack pulled ahead with three runs in the sixth courtesy of Jackson's sacrifice fly and a two-run single by Kaylee Lambrecht to take a 7-4 lead.

The Cards got a run back behind Carmyn Greenwood's one-out solo home run in the top of the seventh. The graduate senior's 10th homer of the season made the score 7-5, but the Cardinals would get no closer as reliever Maddie McPherson retired the next two batters to end the game.

NOTES:

Taylor Roby connected on her team-best 11th homer of the season, extending her career total to 36 and moving into a tie for fourth with Melissa Roth (2007-10). She needs two more to move into a tie for second with Megan Hensley (2016-19) and Chelsea Bemis (2008-11). Courtney - Moore (2004-07) owns the record with 42.
Roby is tied with Carmyn Greenwood atop the team leaders with 33 RBIs.
Carmyn Greenwood tallied her 10th home run of the season. Her home run total, along with her 33 RBIs and 37 runs scored are career-bests for her.
Ally Alexander has now reached base safely via a hit or walk in 15 straight games.
Dylann Cravens has reached safely in 11 straight games – she connected on her first career homer in Friday's game.