Louisville Softball eliminated from NCAA tournament after a 6-4 loss to BYU

Photo courtesy of GoCards.com

The U of L softball team was eliminated from NCAA tournament play on Friday when they lost to BYU 6-4. Despite homeruns by Maryssa Becker and Nicole Pufahl, and a hard fought offensive battle with multiple lead changes, the Cards ultimately couldn’t get it done.

BYU jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning on Alexa Strid’s sacrifice fly that scored Gordy Bravo. Not to be outdone, Louisville came back in the bottom of the inning and pulled ahead 2-1 on Becker’s two-run homer.

The Cougars returned the favor in the third when Libby Sugg belted a three-run homer to go back ahead 4-2. After BYU added two more in the 4th to jump to a 6-2 lead, Louisville made a valiant effort to get back in the game. It was the 6th inning when Pufahl knocked her homer out, scoring Tiarra Sanabria to bring the Cards back within two.

Despite a double by Becker in the 7th inning, Louisville came up short, eliminating them from the Columbia Regional. They finished the season 35-17.

BYU went on to lose to Nebraska, who defeated the Cards on Thursday. Nebraska will have a rematch against Missouri on Saturday for the Columbia Regional final.