Cards Fall to Liberty in Eight Innings

Wednesday, March 30

LOUISVILLE, KY

5:00 PM

University of Louisville

18-13

Liberty

22-12

Liberty

Louisville

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

March 30, 2022 | Softball

Box Score

By: Sarah Ennis and Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, KY- The University of Louisville softball team staged a late-inning rally, but ultimately fell 9-7 to Liberty in eight innings Wednesday evening at Ulmer Stadium.

The Cardinals (18-13, 2-4 ACC) will resume conference play this weekend as they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face North Carolina State in a three-game series.

The teams battled through windy conditions in a game that featured five lead changes and two ties. Roby's two-run homer in the sixth tied the game at 7-7, but Liberty answered with a two-run shot by Devyn Howard in the eighth and the Lady Flames held off another Cardinal rally in the home half of the eighth to prevail 9-7.

Roby went 4-for-5 on the day, marking a career-high for hits while connecting on her team-best 10^th homer of the season, and knocking in four RBIs. Roby also pitched a complete game, while striking out six batters to round out her day.

Liberty (22-12) kicked off the scoring early in the first when Caroline Hudson singled and scored on an RBI hit by Denay Griffin, giving the Lady Flames an early 1-0 lead.

Louisville answered in the bottom half of the first on an RBI single by Roby, which scored Carmyn Greenwood who had reached on a fielding error. Back-to-back bases loaded walks to Hannah File and Dylann Cravens gave the Cards 3-1 advantage.

Liberty used four hits and an error to push four runs across in the second. An RBI double by Rachel Roupeto got the scoring started. Devyn Howard added an RBI single and eventually came around to score off an error, giving the Lady Flames a 4-3 lead. A single by Lou Allan, plated Raigan Barrett, stretched Liberty's lead to 5-3.

The Cardinals also remained hot at the plate in the second inning. Greenwood got the offense started with a triple to straight away centerfield and Ally Alexander followed with a walk. After an RBI single by Roby, Alexander came home on an error to tie the game at 5-5.

Liberty reclaimed the lead in the third on a sacrifice fly by Rachel Roupe to put the Lady Flames back on top 6-5.

After the third inning it became a pitcher's duel with Liberty's Karlie Keeney allowing one hit and Taylor Roby retiring eighth consecutive batters until the sixth inning when the Lady Flames were able to stretch out their lead with an RBI single by Lou Allan.

Once again, Louisville responded courtesy of Roby's two-run homer. With two outs in the inning, Alexander was hit by a pitch to set up Roby, who sent the first pitch she saw to the scoreboard behind left centerfield.

The Cardinals threatened to score again in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back singles by Hannah File and Dylann Cravens in the bottom of the seventh but were eventually left stranded, sending the game to extra innings.

The Lady Flames went back on top with Howard's two-run homer in the top of the eighth.

Louisville had an opportunity to push more runs across in the home half of the eighth when hits by Greenwood and Roby put the potential tying run on, with one out in the inning, but Liberty reliever Karlie Keeney retired the next two batters to end the game.

Keeney (12-6) got the win, allowing four runs, three earned on eight hits and striking out five in 7.1 innings.

Greenwood finished the game with two hits and scored a pair of runs while Alexander matched her career high with three runs.

NOTES:

Louisville is now 4-1 on the season in extra inning games.
Roby connected on her team-best 10^th homer of the season, extending her career total to 35 and gaining sole possession of fifth place on Louisville's all-time list. She needs one more to move into a tie for fourth with Melissa Roth (2007-10). Courtney Moore (2004-07) owns the record with 42.
With her four hits on Wednesday, Roby tied a school record for hits in a game. She also matched her career record with four RBIs.
Ally Alexander has now reached base safely via a hit or walk in 14 straight games.
Dylann Cravens has reached safely in 10 straight games.