The University of Louisville softball team fell to No. 2/3 Florida State 11-0 in game one and lost a 4-3, 10-inning heartbreaker in the second game of an ACC doubleheader Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The teams will wrap up the series Monday at 7 p.m. in an ESPNU televised game.
Florida State 11 – Louisville 0
The Seminoles (43-3-1, 20-0 ACC) clinched the ACC regular season title behind Jessica Burroughs’ one-hitter as Florida State took advantage of a season-high five errors and belted out 10 hits in an 11-0 win to open the series.
Florida State used three hits, a walk and four errors to take a 5-0 lead in the first. Ellie Cooper reached on a throwing error in the first play of the game. Jessica Warren’s hit followed by another miscue put runners on the corners for Alex Power’s RBI single. A walk to Sydney Broderick loaded the bases for Cali Harrod’s RBI hit which plated Warren and an error on the play sent Powers home. Broderick crossed the plate on an attempt to catch Harrod stealing second. One out later, Harrod scored the final run of the inning on Dani Morgan’s groundout.
“We started off on a bad note with an error which, unfortunately, set the tone for us,” said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. “That first inning hurt us. After that, we settled down, but you can’t make those kinds of mistakes against a team like Florida State. We know they’re going to hit the ball, so we can give them runs.”
The Seminoles capitalized on four hits and another error to put up three runs in the fourth and Warren’s three-run homer in the fifth capped the scoring at 11-0.
The Cardinals (26-16, 9-6) had a base runner in the first when a Florida State error allowed freshman Caitlin Ferguson to reach. Walks to senior Jordan McNary and junior Nicole Pufahl put Louisville runners on in the third and fourth innings respectively. Senior Morgan Meyer’s two-out double in the bottom of the fifth broke up Burroughs’ no-hitter, but a groundout ended the game.
Maryssa Becker (19-9) took the loss, allowing 11 runs, seven earned, on 10 hits and striking out one in five innings.
Burroughs (22-2) struck out seven in five innings to get the win. Warren paced the Seminoles with a 3-for-4, three RBI performance at the plate.
Florida State 4 – Louisville 3 (10 innings)
Sophomore Megan Hensley struck out nine while tossing a career-high 10 innings as the Cardinals fell short 4-3 in an attempt to upset the Seminoles in a game that featured two lead changes and two ties.
“This was probably one of the best games Megan has thrown since coming back from an injury,” said Pearsall. “I’m pleased that she was able to throw that many innings today and I thought she did a nice job.”
The teams played through five and a half scoreless innings before the Cardinals opened up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back infield hits by Meyer and McNary and an error allowed Ferguson to reach, loading the bases with one out. Becker connected on a two-run single to put Louisville on the scoreboard.
The Seminoles countered with a pair of runs in the seventh when Carsyn Gordon walked and Morgan followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position for Zoe Casas’ two-run single which evened the score at 2-2.
After scoreless eighth inning, Gordon led off the ninth with a home run to put Florida State on top 3-2. The Seminoles threatened to increase the lead after a walk to Morgan, a single by Deja Bush and a sac bunt by Korina Rosario put two runners in scoring position with one out, but Ferguson and junior Alison Szydlowski connected on a 6-5 double play to stave off the scoring opportunity.
Louisville answered in the home half of the ninth when Szydlowski’s RBI single plated Pufahl who reached on an error to start the inning. Hensley’s groundout pushed Pufahl into scoring position and the speedy centerfielder came around to score on Szydlowski’s two-out single. Sophomore Lillie Goetz walked to put two runners on and another miscue allowed Meyer to reach, but Szydlowski got caught in a rundown to end the inning.
Broderick’s RBI double put Florida State back on top in the tenth. Powers delivered a one-out hit and Powers followed with a double to make the score 4-3. With a runner at second and one out on the inning, Ferguson chased down a popup into shallow left field and teamed with second baseman sophomore Jamie Soles Louisville’s second double play in as many innings.
The Cardinals threatened in bottom of the tenth when Becker was hit by a pitch and moved to third when an error allowed Pufahl to reach, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but a lineout ended the game.
“The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but we fought and dug in and kept coming back,” said Pearsall.
Hensley (7-7) allowed four earned runs on 11 hits while striking out nine – one shy of her career-high – in a complete game effort. Becker went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Megan King (20-1) got the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out five in 6.2 innings. Burroughs gave up one unearned run on two hits and fanned three in 3.1 innings. Gordon went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI while Casas drove in two for the Seminoles.
Lori Korte
Assistant Sports Information Director
University of Louisville Athletics