By Jordan Shim–
Senior Maryssa Becker picked up her third win in two days as softball routed Purdue 9-1 in five innings Feb. 18 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Redshirt junior Nicole Pufahl’s home run separated the two teams after two innings. Purdue kept it close, but the Cards erupted in the third.
Junior Sidney Melton started the inning with a bunt single and senior Jordan McNary reached base on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error by Purdue allowed McNary to steal second and Melton stole third, advancing home to score. Becker followed that up with her third home run of the season.
Five more players touched base forcing Purdue to make a pitching change. Louisville took advantage of two Purdue errors to score six runs on five hits.
The Boilermakers responded by pressuring Becker in the bottom of the third. Maya Hughes reached base with a one-out single. Kristen Hoppmann and Mallory Baker followed up with hits to load the bases. Brooke Perry hit into a double play to end the inning, but Hughes scored before the inning ended.
Sophomore Morgan Hensley hit her second home run of the year, tacking on two more runs in the fourth inning for the Cards.
Louisville’s defense kept the Boilermaker offense in check, limiting them to three hits.
Becker (5-1) was credited with the win, striking out three. Offensively, Becker, Henlsey and Pufahl all had a home run, two RBIs and scored two runs. The trio went 6-for-8 at the plate. Freshman Caitlin Ferguson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two doubles in her first career start.
Louisville will conclude the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a rematch against Ohio State on Feb. 19. The Cards defeated OSU 9-0 in their first match.
