By Sam Draut–

Louisville softball defeated NC State 10-1 in the first part of Friday’s double-header. The Cardinals improved to 20-6 overall and 6-1 in the ACC.

Table setter– Cardinal leadoff hitter Sidney Melton started the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field. She advanced to second on an illegal pitch and moved to third on a dropped infield popup. Cleanup hitter Lillie Goetz grounded out to first base and Melton scored on the fielder’s choice, giving Louisville a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Gap shot– With two outs in the second inning, Jordan McNary hit a triple that split the outfielders in right-center-field, driving in Brittany Sims as Louisville took a 2-0 lead heading into the third inning.

The circle– Maryssa Becker struck out the side in the first inning. She gave up a solo home run in the fourth inning to Meredith Burroughs. Becker pitched five innings, giving up three hits and one run, striking out six batters on her way to her 10th win of the season.

“I’m proud of what Maryssa Becker did today on the mound, she did a great job,” coach Sandy Pearsall said.

Manufactured– After NC State scored a run in the top of the fourth, Louisville responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Melton drove in Nicole Pufahl with a sac-fly, then with Becker hitting, McNary scored from second on a throwing error by NC State shortstop Lana Van Dyken. The Cardinals took a 6-1 lead when Goetz drove in two runs on a double to left-center-field.

“I’m proud of the offense to create,” Pearsall said. “We’re not a team that’s going to get it out of the park a lot but we had hits today that scored runs.”

Crushed– Megan Hensley drilled a three-run home run to left-center-field in the fifth inning to end the game. The home run is the freshman’s team-leading seventh of the season.

Photo by Wade Morgen / The Louisville Cardinal