Cardinals Post Two Shutouts in Red & Black Challenge

Saturday, March 13

LOUISVILLE, KY

11:30 A.M.

University of Louisville

8-7

VALPARAISO

4-7

Valpo

Louisville

March 13, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Taylor Roby drove in six runs on the day to help the University of Louisville softball team pick up a pair of shutout wins in the Red & Black Challenge. The Cardinals (9-7) opened the tournament with an 8-0 win against Valpo and defeated Western Kentucky 3-0 in the final game of the day.

"I was really proud of our battery - our pitchers and catchers did a really good job today," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "I think to get two shutouts against two quality teams says a lot about what they are doing, the way they are working together and what our pitching coach Griffin Joiner is doing with them as well. I'm just really pleased with that. I also think we played really well defensively, I think those two things worked in tandem together and then we figured out ways to score runs. We kind of got them in bunches today, it was a really good effort overall."

Louisville 8 – Valpo 0 - Highlights
Roby went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double and collected three RBIs to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Gabby Holloway (3-2) tossed a complete game shutout, striking out three and scattering two hits in 6.0 innings of work as the Cardinals picked up their first shutout of the day.

Louisville jumped to an early lead when Carmyn Greenwood led off the bottom of the first with a hit and scored on Roby's double.

The lead held until the sixth inning when the Cardinals used eight hits – four for extra bases - and an error to plate seven runs. The frame featured Roby's two-run homer and two doubles by Taryn Weddle as well an RBI double by Makayla Hurst.

UofL tallied 12 hits in the game with Carmyn Greenwood going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Hurst going 2-for-3 with two doubles and Servi with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.

Caitlyn Kowalski (3-3) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and striking out two in 5.2 innings. Brittany Anderson and Lauren Kehlenbrink each had a hit for Valpo (4-7).

Louisville 3 – WKU 0
In the second game of the day, Roby drove in all three of the Cardinals' runs and picked up the win in the circle, scattering four hits in four innings and fanning two. Jennifer Leonhardt combined for the shutout and earned her second save of the season, striking out four while surrendering one hit in 3.0 innings of relief.

The teams played through two and a half scoreless innings before the Cardinals took a 3-0 lead courtesy of Roby's three-run double in the home half of the third. Makayla Hurst led off with Louisville's first hit of the game. A walk issued to Jenna Servi walked and Funke's fielder's choice loaded the bases. Carmyn Greenwood's fielder's choice saw an out at the plate, but left the bases loaded for Roby, who smacked a double the right centerfield.

The Hilltoppers (10-4) had runners in scoring position seven different times in the game, but the Cardinals' defense held them at bay.

Kelsey Aikey (2-4) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on four hits and striking out six in 6.0 innings.

The Cardinals will return to action next weekend when they play host to No. 25 Clemson in a four-game ACC series starting on Friday.