Cardinals Play Host to No. 21/21 Duke

GAME INFORMATION
Louisville vs. No. 21/21 Duke
Date: April 16-18 2021
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Venue: Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium
Schedule
Friday, 7 p.m. - Live Scoring | ACCNX
Saturday, 12 p.m. - Live Scoring | ACCNX
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. - Live Scoring | ACCNX
Sunday, 12 p.m. - Live Scoring | ACCNX
Twitter Updates: @UofLSoftball
Admission: Player pass list, limited free walk-up tickets for inside the stadium. Berm seating available with social distancing.
Visit here for more information.

The University of Louisville softball team will play host to No. 21/21 Duke in a four-game ACC series this weekend at Ulmer Stadium. The teams open the series with a single game Friday at 7 p.m. and continue with a doubleheader started at 12 p.m. on Saturday. The weekend finale will take place Sunday at 12 p.m.

Prior to Saturday's first game, UofL will hold a special tribute to alum Melissa Jacobo, who passed away earlier this year.

ULMER STADIUM ATTENDANCE POLICY
In 2021, attendance will be limited to 20 percent capacity at Ulmer Stadium. Due to these capacity limitations, pass list admittance will be available to guests of Louisville student-athletes, coaches and visiting team, along with a limited number of walk-up tickets for UofL Students and the general public.

In an effort to continue to follow CDC and state COVID-19 guidelines and six-foot social distancing, UofL Athletics will be putting measures in place to stay within these parameters in the berm area at Ulmer Stadium. For the UK game and the remaining two ACC series, fans will find barricades in place that will limit access to the occupancy levels the space will provide.

The berm seating will continue to be accessed on a first-come, first-served basis within the confines of the area. Once it has reached social-distanced capacity, no additional access will be allowed. All fans who get a seat within the berm will be given a wristband that will allow entry throughout the game. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets if they wish to sit in the berm.

All home contests will be televised and/or streamed for those who cannot attend.

For more information please visit here.

PARKING INFORMATION
Fans attending the games held at the University of Louisville may utilize the Floyd Street Parking Garage located across from the Don Fightmaster Playground for a $5 fee. The garage will be open to the public 90 minutes before the game.

CARDINAL NOTES
• This weekend's series will kick off a stretch of nine games against top-25 opponents for Louisville.
• At 11:45 a.m., prior to Saturday's 12 p.m. doubleheader, Louisville will hold a pregame ceremony in honor of alum Melissa Jacobo who passed away on January 11, 2021.
• The Cardinals (15-17, 9-12 ACC) are currently ninth in the ACC standings while the Blue Devils (27-9, 15-9) are fourth.
• Louisville is coming off of a series split at Georgia Tech last weekend.
• Carmyn Greenwood leads the team and the ACC with 46 hits. She also has registered team-high batting average of .447, standing second in the ACC. She leads the way with nine doubles, 20 runs, eight stolen bases and 16 multi-hit games.
^ She recently matched a career-high and tied a school record with four hits in the 10-2 win at Georgia Tech on April 10.
• Taylor Roby is currently on and eight-game hitting stream and leads the team with 11 home runs and 32 RBI standing second in the ACC in home runs and third in RBI.
^ Roby has also produced a team-best nine multi-RBI games.
• Makayla Hurst has reached safely via a hit or walk in the last 11 games.
• Roby (8-8) leads the team with a 2.72 ERA in 95.1 innings of work.
   ^ Roby was named ACC Player of the Week on February 23.
• Jennifer Leonhardt, a graduate transfer from the University of Southern Indiana leads the Cardinals' pitching rotation with 58 strikeouts in 55.1 innings.
• Leonhardt is tied for the ACC lead and second in the nation with four saves.
• Leonhardt has been named a top 30 candidate for the Senior CLASS Award.
• Celene Funke currently ranks second on Louisville's all-time list for triples with 20 and needs six more to tie for the lead.
• Funke is also tied for second on Louisville's career list for stolen bases with 68.
• Louisville was picked to finish seventh in the preseason ACC Coaches poll.

THE APRILE ERA
• Holly Aprile is in her third season as UofL's head coach. With the 2020 campaign suspended prior to its midway point due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Aprile has compiled a 60-50 record and guided the Cardinals to an NCAA regional final appearance in 2019.
• Prior to her arrival at Louisville, Aprile, 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the ACC tournament.

SCOUTING DUKE
Series Record: UL leads 2-1
Last Meeting: The teams last met in a three-game series played March 23-24 in 2018 at Duke Softball Stadium. The Cardinals took the first two games of the series by scores of 5-3 and 5-0, but the Blue Devils closed it out with a 1-0 win in the final game.
Scouting the Blue Devils: Duke brings an overall record of (27-9, 15-9 ACC) heading into this weekend of play at Ulmer Stadium. Duke went 0-3 this past weekend, with one game being canceled, at No. 9 Florida State.
• The Blue Devils are led by Deja Davis who averages a .400 batting percentage and tallies 23 runs, 42 hits, five homeruns, 21 RBIs and is 8-11 with stolen bases. Kristina Foreman adds 28 runs, 24 hits, five homeruns, 22 RBIs and is 10-for-11 in stolen bases.
• In the circle, Peyton St. George posts a 2.01 ERA for the Blue Devils with four shutouts, 119 strikeouts and 11 win on the season. Shelby Walters carries a 1.08 ERA with two shutouts, 47 strikeouts and 11 wins.

RECAPPING THE GEORGIA TECH SERIES
After 19 games at home, the Cardinals hit the road to face Georgia Tech in a four-game series last weekend. With some schedule adjustments due to rain, the Cardinals and the Yellow Jacket split the series 2-2. Louisville took the first game of Friday's doubleheader 6-5 with Georgia Tech prevailing 4-2 in 11 innings in the the nightcap. The teams then traded eight-run rule wins with the Cardinals winning 10-2 on Saturday and the Yellow Jackets closing the series with a 12-2 win on Sunday.
• Carmyn Greenwood led the Cardinals at the play on the weekend, batting.500 (8-for-16) with a double, four RBIs and added a stolen base. She registered a .563 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage. The left fielder also had an assist on the weekend.
• She had three multi-hit games including a 4-for-5, two-run, two RBI performance in the 11-inning loss on Friday. Greenwood also had two hits including a double and drove in a pair of runs in the 6-5 win on Friday and went 2-for 3 with a run in the 10-2 loss on Sunday.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend's ACC series, the Cardinals will hit the road to take on No. 12/12 Kentucky in a midweek matchup on Wednesday. The teams were previously slated to meet on April 7 at Ulmer Stadium, but thunderstorms in the area forced the game to be postponed.
• Louisville will continue its stretch of top-20 opponents next weekend when the Cards play host to No. 9/9 Florida State in their final home series of the regular season with Senior Day taking place on Saturday, April 24.

TOUGH SLATE
Louisville's 2021 slate is highlighted by seven teams in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the ESPN.com/USA Softball coaches' Top 25 polls including: No. 3/3 Alabama, No. 4/5 Florida, No. 9/9 Florida State, No. 12/12 Kentucky, No. 14/15 Virginia Tech, No. 18/17 Clemson and No. 16/20 Duke.
• Four of Louisville's 15 losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10 (Alabama and Florida) and 11 have come against teams in the top 25.
• In response to the ongoing pandemic, the annual ACC/Big Ten challenge was cancelled and the ACC implemented four-game series to limit travel between conference opponents.
• Ulmer Stadium is set to host 28 games throughout the season, including two tournaments in March: the Cardinal Classic and the Red & Black Challenge.
• UofL will host the ACC Tournament from May 12-15, where the top 10 conference teams will be eligible to participate this year.

DOUBLE DUTY
All three of Louisville's starting pitchers can also help their cause at the plate.
Taylor Roby leads the team with a career-high 11 home runs and 32 RBI.
• Additionally, the redshirt junior has logged a team-high 95.1 innings and issued 48 strikeouts.
• Jennifer Leonhardt leads the team 59Ks and is tied for first in the ACC with four saves. The graduate senior transfer from the University of Southern Indiana is batting .261 on the season and recently connected on her first home run as a Cardinal. She finished her undergrad career with a .327 batting average.
Gabby Holloway (3-5) has turned in 55.1 innings, standing second behind Roby in innings pitched. The freshman has issued 17 strikeouts on the season and has driven in a pair of runs.

HURST COMING ON STRONG
Junior Makayla Hurst is in her first season at Louisville after transferring from Utah. The first baseman has been on a tear recently, having reached safely via a hit or a walk in the last 11 games dating back to the March 27 game against Virginia Tech. During that stretch, she has posted a .406 batting average (13-for-32) with five walks, five home runs and 15 RBIs.

TRIPLE TREAT
Celene Funke connected her third triple of the season in the 9-0 win over Bradley, extending career total to 21. She currently stands second on Louisville's all-time list and needs five more more to tie Audrey Rendon (2004-07) for first.
• Funke led the nation in triples with 13 in 2019, setting the school single season record along the way.

FUNKE FAST (STOLEN BASE EDITION)
Celene Funke recently registered her sixth stolen base of the season on April 10 against Georgia Tech. She extends her career total to 68 and stands tied for second on Louisville's all-time stolen base list. Audrey Rendon (2004-07) holds the record with 82.

SERVI NAMED ONE OF ACC'S TOP SIX FOr SERVICE
Sophomore Jenna Servi has been named one of the ACC's Top Six for Service honorees. She joins fellow Cardinals Kaylee Wheeler (swim/dive), Sam Minrath (field hockey), Meghan Schneider (field hockey), Kaitlyn Harbsmeier (dance) and Makenzie Kelley (dance) who were honored for their commitment to service for the 2020-21 school year.
• Each year the Atlantic Coast Conference honors six University of Louisville student-athletes that have shown a commitment to service throughout the school year with the Top 6 for Service award.
• Servi, has been an avid volunteer for the Kentucky Humane Society. She has fostered dogs over the past year and participated in events for the shelter. She has also volunteered with Feed the West, Air Force Reserve, and Blessings in a Backpack. Servi has dedicated a total of 200 hours to the Louisville community.

SISTER ACT
• Louisville's roster features two sets of sisters: the Schindlers and the Greenwoods.
• Senior outfielder Carmyn Greenwood transferred to Louisville from Auburn in the 2020 season, joining her sister, Cassady who is a junior catcher for the Cardinals.
• Senior pitcher Paige Schindler and outfielder Riley Schindler are among 21 sets of twins in NCAA Division I softball who play for the same team. Paige Schindler is sidelined this season due to injury.
• All four sisters saw action in the Feb. 8, 2020 game against Texas State. Carmyn Greenwood was in left field while sister Cassady was catching and Riley Schindler was playing right field while Paige was pitching.

SUPER SENIORS CELENE FUNKE AND JENNIFER LEONHARDT
UofL has two "super seniors" on its roster in the form of graduate students Celene Funke and Jennifer Leonhardt, both of whom are utilizing an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA following the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign.
               Funke (Carmel, Ind.) was leading the team in stolen bases (13-for-13) and triples (3) when her senior season came to an abrupt halt after 23 games. In 2019, she led the nation in triples and set a school record with 13 while registering a team-best 48 runs and standing second with a .324 batting average and 29 stolen bases. The speedy centerfielder currently stands second on Louisville's career list for triples (18) and third on the all-time stolen base list with 62.
               Funke is also the program's first three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2018, 2019) and is pursuing her MBA after earning her undergraduate degree in finance in May 2019.
               Leonhardt returns to her hometown after completing her career at the University of Southern Indiana where she was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American.        The right-handed pitcher will play for the Cardinals while attending UofL's School of Dentistry.
               Leonhardt led the USI to the 2018 NCAA Division II national title and earned Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Series honors.
               As her senior campaign was cut short, Leonhardt carried a 7-3 record with a 1.63 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work. She also led the team with a .386 batting average.
               Leonhardt finished her career at USI as the program's all-time leader in wins (83), strikeouts (787) and complete game shutouts (35) while standing second in saves (8) and innings pitched (730.2). At the plate, she registered a .327 career batting average with 87 RBIs and 74 runs.

CARDS ON TV
All of Louisville's home contests will be televised on the ACC Network or ACC Network Extra.
• Additionally, the Cardinals' April 21 road game at Kentucky will be aired on ESPNU.

SCHEDULE UPDATES
Louisville's ACC series at Boston College (April 30-May 2) has been altered as part of ACC Network coverage. The teams will now square off in a single game at 5 p.m. on Friday followed by a 12 p.m./5 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. The series finale will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m.

GREENWOOD NAMED ACC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Carmyn Greenwood was named the ACC Softball Player of the Week on April 7.
• Greenwood led the Cardinals at the plate as Louisville took three of four games at Pittsburgh. The left fielder batted .733 (11-for-15) with six doubles and scored five runs with five RBI while posting a 1.133 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage. She had at least two hits in each game, registering a career-best 4-for-4 performance in Saturday's 7-4 win. She also belted out at least one double in each of the Cardinals' four games with two in each game of Saturday's doubleheader. Additionally, Greenwood produced at least one RBI in each game, driving in a pair of runs in Monday's series finale.
• She now leads the team with a .437 batting average, eight doubles, 17 runs and seven stolen bases.

ROBY NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor Roby was named ACC Player of the Week for the period ending on February 22.
• Roby (Mt. Washington, Ky.) earned her first ACC weekly honor after helping the Cardinals to three straight wins to close out the ACC Pod Weekend. The redshirt junior registered a .438 batting average (7-for-16) with three home runs, 10 RBIs and three runs and was walked twice. She also posted a 1.000 slugging percentage and .526 on-base percentage on the weekend.
• Roby registered three multi-hit and RBI games on the weekend, reaching via a hit or a walk in all but one game. Additionally, she drove in at least one run in four of the Cardinals' five contests on the weekend.
• In Saturday's 5-4 win against Virginia, Roby crushed a two-run homer to even the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. She went on to deliver a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to lift Louisville to its first win of the season. She finished the game with a 3-for-4, four RBI performance at the plate, tying her career highs for hits and RBI.
• In addition to her offensive production, Roby was a workhorse in the circle for the Cardinals as they went 3-2 in the ACC Pod Weekend, logging 14.2 innings with seven strikeouts. She closed the weekend with a complete game one-hit shutout to help Louisville to a 4-0 win against Virginia. In that game, she retired the first eight batters she faced before surrendering a two-out single in the third. A walk and subsequent fielder's choice allowed the Cavaliers' only baserunners in the game, none moved into scoring position. She registered three strikeouts in the contest.

LEONHARDT NAMED SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE
Jennifer Leonhardt has been named one 30 candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS® Award in collegiate softball.
•To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
• Leonhardt, right-handed pitcher who hails from Louisville, Ky. (Fern Creek HS) is a graduate transfer from the University of Southern Indiana and is utilizing an extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA following the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
• The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists in March, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
• The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2021 Women's College World Series® in June.

CARDS PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN ACC
The University of Louisville softball team was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference released its preseason coaches poll.
2021 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Florida State (141 pts, nine first-place votes)
2) Virginia Tech (136 pts, four first-place votes)
3) Notre Dame (114 pts)
4) Duke (99 pts)
5) North Carolina (96 pts)
6) Clemson (88 pts)
7) Louisville (81 pts)
8) NC State (78 pts)
9) Georgia Tech (61 pts)
10) Syracuse (39 pts)
11) Pitt (31 pts)
12) Virginia (28 pts)
13) Boston College

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Players Mentioned

Celene Funke

Carmyn Greenwood

Gabby Holloway

Makayla Hurst

Jennifer Leonhardt

Taylor Roby

Paige Schindler

Riley Schindler

Jenna Servi

University of Louisville Athletics