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	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (20-18)	0	2	1	0	0	3	6	4
Louisville (25-8)	1	0	2	0	9	12	9	3
Ulmer Stadium - 258 Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Despite an early two-run lead, the Virginia Tech softball team fell short in five innings at Louisville on Saturday afternoon, 12-9. The Hokies slide to 20-18 overall, 9-4 in conference play while the Cardinals improve to 25-8, 10-3.

Freshman Lauren Duff extended her hitting streak to 19 games with her 2-for-3 outing, maintaining the second-longest streak in program history.

Maggie Tyler made her 18th start in the circle for the Hokies.

The Cardinals jumped on the board in the first frame following an error, hit, and double. But the Hokies ended the inning on a double play as Olivia Lattin tagged the runner on first before flipping the ball to Katey Smith for the final out.

The Hokies responded in the top of the second with two runs to take the lead. Back-to-back Louisville errors followed by a single by Caitlyn Nolan, drove in the tying run. Emma Strouth reaches first on a fielder’s choice that allows Kelsey Mericka to score.

Tech extended the lead to 3-1 in the third inning on doubles by Lattin and Duff. Mericka slugged the sacrifice fly, driving in Lattin.

The Hokies’ lead did not last long as the Cards’ Maryssa Becker slugged a two-RBI homerun to left to tie up the game at three runs each.

Both Tech and Louisville were held scoreless in the fouth before the Cardinals’ bats came alive in the fifth inning. The Hokies posted three fielding errors in the bottom of the frame, allowing eight unearned runs to cross the plate. A triple by Brittany Sims and home run by Megan Hensley drove in three runs apiece to end the game in five.

Tyler took the loss in 4.1 innings of work while Mikaela Aiken tossed 0.1 innings in relief.

The Hokies and Cardinals conclude the series on Sunday morning with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball