Cardinals Fall to No. 8 Alabama in Season-Opening Doubleheader

Sunday, February 14

Tuscaloosa, AL

1:00 P.M.

University of Louisville

0-1

Alabama

3-0

Louisville

Alabama

Taylor Roby pitching during the game against Illinois at Ulmer Stadium on March 6.

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Fall to No. 8 Alabama in Season-Opening Doubleheader

February 14, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Lori Harmon

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Louisville softball team lost both games of its season-opening doubleheader at No. 8 Alabama, falling 5-0 in the first game and 4-0 in the second Sunday at Rhoads Stadium.

UofL (0-2) will return to action next weekend when the Cards travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on Virginia and NC State in the ACC Pod Weekend.

No. 8 Alabama 5 - Louisville 0
Jennifer Leonhardt delivered a hit and struck out three in 3.0 innings of relief in Louisville's season-opening loss to the host Crimson Tide.

Alabama (4-0) took an early lead with three runs in the first inning when KB Sides and Alexis Mack led off with back-to-back hits. Bailey Hemphill's RBI single plated Sides. A two-run single by Claire Jenkins made the score 3-0.

Alabama added another run behind Jenkins' RBI groundout in the third and Sides doubled in an unearned run in the fourth to increase the lead to 5-0.

Taylor Roby (0-1) took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on six hits in 3.0 innings of work. Leonhardt registered Louisville's lone hit and limited the Tide to two hits in the final three innings.

Montana Fouts (2-0) picked up the complete game shutout win for Alabama, giving up one hit and striking out 11.

No. 8 Alabama 4 – Louisville 0
In the second game of the doubleheader, Makayla Hurst went 2-for-3 to lead the Cardinals at the plate while Jennifer Leonhardt and Gabby Holloway combined to scatter five hits in three innings.

The teams played through two scoreless innings before Alabama broke through three runs in the third. Elissa Brown singled and eventually crossed the plate on a groundout by Bailey Hemphill. Bailey Dowling's two-run homer increased the lead to 3-0.

Louisville had a chance to respond in the top of the fifth. Hurst delivered her second hit of the game, Jordyn Wolfe followed with a walk. One out later, Rebecca Chung reached on an error to load the bases with one out. A force out at the plate and a groundout kept the Cardinals off of the scoreboard.

The Cards had another scoring opportunity in the third when Hurst connected on the first hit of the game when she led off the third with a single to centerfield. Sidney Bickel's base hit put two runners on as the Cards moved into scoring position. An error allowed Carmyn Greenwood to reach and loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the frame.

Leonhardt (0-1) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on two hits in 3.0 innings. Holloway gave up one earned run on three hits in 3.0 innings of relief.

Lexi Kilfoyl (2-0) got the win, striking out 10 in a complete game effort.