FSU nips Louisville Softball 5-4...TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

7th Inning Score Gives Noles win over Louisville Softball

Another close game against FSU Softball Monday night for Louisville at Ulmer Stadium...the Noles getting the 5-4 win with a run in the top of the seventh inning and then keeping Louisville at bay in their final at-bat. 

Another rough start for the Cards to begin this one...the first five batters in the FSU lineup reached base against starter Megan Hensley and FSU built a 3-0 lead with three singles and two walks in the top of the first. 

Louisville did not give up the battle, though. Hensley powered a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 3-1. Three walks and a single gave FSU a 4-1 advantage in the top of the fourth...but the Cards rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it up at 4-4. Singles from Nicole "Poof" Pufahl , Hensley and "Mike, Mike, Mike" Alison Szydlowski loaded the bases for the Cards with no outs. Jenna Jordan grounded out to score Pufahl and then "The New Pride of New Egypt" Jamie Soles belted a double to deep center that brought "Szyd" and Hensley to the plate. 

Meghan King had replaced Noles starter Jessica Burroughs in the circle after the Cards fourth inning outburst and kept the Cards at bay offensively the rest of the way. Coincidentally, Burroughs had been named the first draft pick during the fourth inning in the NPF (National Pro Fast Pitch) softball league. Hensley had settled down and kept the Seminoles from getting any further runs over the next two innings.

The teams entered the top of the seventh deadlocked at 4-4. FSU got a single from the speedy Cali Harrod, she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. That set the stage for a Zoe Casas single which scored Harrod.

Pinch hitter Lillie Goetz drew a walk for the Cards in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to advance to the plate and FSU got the one-run win and a sweep of the series. Sandy

Tough losses in two of these...a mere run...against #3 in the nation. Our own Jeff "Worldwide" McAdams was on-site for last night's game and got comments from UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall after the contest: 

LINK: POST GAME PEARSALL WITH CARDINAL COUPLE


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The NPF is a five-team, professional softball league that fields teams in Akron, OH, Chicago, Texas and Florida. Besides Burroughs selection, FSU first baseman Alex Powers was selected in the second round. No other ACC teams had a draft pick in the five rounds...there was a possibility that UofL pitcher Maryssa Becker might get selected, but it didn't happen. Arizona has it going on...four Wildcats were picked in the draft. 

Several former Cards have played in the league in past years but there are currently no Louisville softball players on the rosters.  

paulie
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