Smith's Home Run Sends Cards to 3-2 Win Over Hofstra

Sunday, March 6

LOUISVILLE, KY

12:30 PM

University of Louisville

11-8

HOFSTRA

2-12

Hofstra

Louisville

Photo by: Jared Anderson

March 06, 2022 | Softball

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kendall Smith's sixth-inning solo home run broke a 2-2 tie to give the University of Louisville softball team a 3-2 win against Hofstra in the final game of the Cardinal Classic Sunday at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville (11-8) will continue its three-week homestand when the Cardinals collaborate with the University of Kentucky to host the Bluegrass Challenge which will feature Valparaiso, Central Michigan, Ohio University and Eastern Kentucky.

The Pride (2-12) took an early lead with a pair of runs in the first.

The Cardinals answered with a run in the home half of the inning when freshman Easton Lotus led off with a double and eventually crossed the plate on Taylor Roby's sacrifice fly.

Louisville added another run in the third when junior Jenna Servi walked, stole second and came home on Carmyn Greenwood's double.

Hofstra had a chance to score in the fifth, when Meghan Giordano singled, took second on a passed ball and tried to score on an hit by Sam Ward, but shortstop freshman Ally Alexander made a diving stop to keep the hit in the infield and teamed with first baseman Maddi Grant and Smith who tagged Giordano out at the plate.

With the score still knotted at 2-2 and one out in the sixth inning, Smith crushed the first pitch she saw into left center field to put the Cards on top 3-2 with her sixth homer of the season.

Hofstra had one final scoring opportunity in the seventh, a hit, fielder's choice and walk to put runners on the corners with one out, but Roby entered the game to pitch and retired the next to batters to end the game and record her first save of the season.

Gabby Holloway (3-2) earned the win after holding the Pride scoreless on one hit in 0.2 innings of relief.

Julia Apsel (2-4) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on three hits and striking out one in a complete game effort. Ward led Hofstra with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.