It was the last home stand of the regular reason for the Cardinals softball team at Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium. Louisville entered the series on a six-game win streak and a 15-3 record at home. The now have a 33-17 overall record, 12-9 in the ACC.
Game 1 vs North Carolina – Friday night L 0-6
It was bad from the start for UofL as UNC put 4 runs on the board in the opening half inning. North Carolina used a hit, five walks, an error and a passed ball to plate four unearned runs.
Danielle Watson started in the circle and the Tarheels would bat (sort of) around the lineup before Roby would relieve her. Watson faced 8, walked 4 and struck out 1 as she threw 43 pitches.
It was the first shut out for Louisville since Feb. 15. In the bottom of the third, Funke walked and stole second. Melton followed with a walk and Roby loaded the bases with a single. A ground out to third base ended the threat for the Cards. Louisville would strand 10 runners in the game.
Newman singled to start the seventh inning and Melton walked to put two runners on. A passed ball advanced runners to second and third, but a pop up ended the final comeback chance for the Cards.
Game 2 vs North Carolina – Satruday afternoon L 10-7
The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead after 1 complete inning when Melton scored from 2B on a single by Roby. Melton got on base on an error by the SS in her first appearance at the plate. The Tarheels would answer by scoring 5 in the top of the 2nd inning.
But the Cards not to be discouraged on Senior Day. With Wolfe and Henlsey on base on a walk and hit, Darrianne Hale over the center field fence to pull the Cards within one run, 5-4.
But the Tarheels weren’t done either… a 2 run homerun in the following half inning put UNC back up 7-4.
Sidney Melton got on in the bottom of the 5th, stole 2B and trotted across home plate when Hensley homered over the LF fence to bring the score again within one, 7-6. It was Hensley’s 10th homer of the season, a team best.
Carolina widened the gap with three more runs to take a 10-6 lead in the top of the seventh.
With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Snyder kept the Cardinals alive with a solo shot to right center for her third homer of the season to bring the final score to 10-7.
Taylor Roby (13-2) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 1.1 innings.
Game 3 vs North Carolina – Sunday afternoon W 6-1
The Cards would come out swinging on the last home game of the regular season. They managed to face only 4 UNC batters in the opening half inning and then batted around the lineup in the home half and jumped to a 5-0 lead on 4 hits. Melton ripped a double down the left field line, Hensley walked and Roby reached on an error to load the bases for Snyder’s two-run single. Snyder was lifted for pinch-runner Paige Schindler, who proceeded to steal 2B. Chung singled to load the bases for Wolfe who walked to plate Roby. Back-to-back RBI hits by Newman and Funke capped the first inning scoring.
Danielle Watson (11-12) allowed one run and scattered five hits while striking out four in seven innings.
• Louisville finishes the 2019 season with a 16-5 record at Ulmer Stadium.
• Sidney Melton has reached safely in the last 14 games
• Melton also leads the team with a career-high 28 stolen bases and stands tied for first with Coleen Coughlin (2000) on Louisville’s single season list.
The Cardinals will return to action next weekend when the travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on NC State in the final ACC series of the season.
Daryl Foust
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