Late-Inning Rally Falls Short in Loss to Ohio State

Saturday, February 12

Boca Raton, FL

9:00 A.M.

University of Louisville

4-1

Ohio State

2-0

Ohio State

Louisville

February 12, 2022 | Softball

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A late-inning rally by the University of Louisville softball team fell short in an 8-5 loss to Ohio State in the Cardinals' final game of the FAU First Pitch Classic Saturday at FAU Softball Stadium.

Louisville (4-1) will return to action next weekend with a trip to Gainesville, Florida for the T-Mobile Classic.

After trailing 8-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals scored five runs in the final two innings and had the go-ahead run at the plate prior to the final out of the game. The loss halted Louisville's four-game win streak to open the season.

Freshman Maddi Grant went 3-for-3 and scored a run while graduate senior Kendall Smith connected on a two-run homer to lead Louisville at the plate.

Ohio State (2-0) took an early lead behind Avery Clark's leadoff home run in the bottom of the second and added runs in each of the next five innings to build an 8-0 lead.

Louisville started its rally in the sixth as Smith's two-run homer put the Cardinals on the scoreboard. Redshirt senior Taylor Roby earned a walk and Mia Forsythe entered to run, setting the table for Smith, who blasted a shot over the left field fence for her second homer of the season.

With Cards down 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Grant got the home half of the inning started with a base hit and Dylann Cravens followed with a walk. Junior Jenna Servi's hit loaded the bases for freshman Easton Lotus' RBI single. Cravens crossed the plate on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Smith plated Servi, bringing the score to 8-5. File walked to load the bases, placing the tying run on first and the go-ahead run to the plate, but a flyout ended the game.

Senior Chardonnay Harris (1-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout in 2.2 innings of work. Sophomore Gabby Holloway surrendered five runs, three earned, with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief. Freshman Sam Booe entered to pitch in the seventh inning and held the Buckeyes scoreless.