Saturday, February 11
Clearwater, FL
1:30 PM
University of Louisville
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Southern University
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Southern
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Louisville
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Photo by: Chad Harmon
Cards Defeat Howard, Missouri to Close Out NFCA Leadoff Classic
February 12, 2023 | Softball
Cards beat Howard 8-0 and Missouri 4-0, finish opening weekend with a 4-1 record
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team defeated Howard University 8-0 in five innings and Missouri 4-0 in the continuation of Saturday's halted game on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Field.
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The Cardinals finished their opening weekend with a 4-1 record and three straight shutouts to finish the tournament.
"We had a solid first weekend and we are going to continue to get better," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We didn't show our best selves against Kentucky but our response was exactly what it needed to be. We set a great tone on the mound and our offense got the job done up and down the lineup."
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Louisville 8 – Howard 0 (5 inn.)
In the game, the Cardinals connected on eight hits, including two doubles and Elana Ornelas' first career home run. Graduate senior Taylor Roby and junior Gabby Holloway combined for the one-hit to help Louisville move to 3-1 on the season. Ornelas led Louisville with a career-best day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
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The Cards opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second. Sophomore Korbe Otis drew a leadoff walk and stole second Freshman Sarah Gordon followed with an RBI single. Ornelas singled and Ally Alexander was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Easton Lotus who earned a walk to bring home Gordon.
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Louisville used two walks and two hits – including Ornelas' two-run homer to plate four more runs in the third. Roby led off with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Mia Forsythe. Otis volowed with a walk and both runners advanced on Gordon's sacrifice bunt. Junior Vanessa Miller's RBI hit sent Forsythe home and Otis crossed the plate on a double steal attempt. Ornelas then launched a shot over the right field fence to make the score 6-0.
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In the fifth inning, Miller was hit by a pitch and Ornelas connected on her third hit of the game. Alexander followed with a double to plate Miller. Paige Geraghty's RBI single sent Ornelas home for the 8-0 final.
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Howard's best chance to score came in the third inning when Sydni Jones reached on an error and Lealani Ricks followed with a walk to put a runner in scoring position with one out, but Roby and the Louisville defense retired the next to batters to preserve the shutout.
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Roby (1-0) earned the win and did not allow a hit while striking out two in 3.0 innings. Gabby Holloway registered one strikeout in two innings.
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Amelia Weber (1-1) took the loss for Howard (2-2) after giving up four earned runs on three hits in 2.0 innings. Sidney Fletcher delivered the Bison's lone hit of the game.
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Louisville 4 – RV/23 Missouri 0
In the continuation of Saturday's halted game against Missouri, the teams resumed the contest where they left off - in the top of the fourth with the Cardinals up 2-0 courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles by Daisy Hess and Taylor Roby.
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Missouri's Julia Crenshaw led off with a hit, but the Cardinal defense came up strong with a double play by second baseman Easton Lotus, shortstop Daisy Hess and Ornelas at first base to end the top of the fourth.
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The Cardinals' offense picked up where it left off before the game was halted when Ornelas doubled and scored on a hit by Alexander to push Louisville's lead to 3-0.
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The fifth inning brought another Louisville run. This time Otis powered a ball to right field. The sophomore sped around the bases and was safe on a play at the plate for an inside the park home run to make the score 4-0.
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After surrendering a hit in the top of the fourth, Zabala retired the next eight batters until Crenshaw connected on her second hit of the game to lead off the seventh, but the Tigers would get no closer as the Cardinals' defense held up for the 4-0 victory.
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Freshman Alyssa Zabala (2-0) earned her first career complete game shutout while scattering three hits and striking out six. Otis went 2-for-2 with one run and Roby was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Lotus also finished with a 2-for-4 with a run.
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Jordan Weber (0-2) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 2.2 innings. Julia Crenshaw went 2-for-3 to lead the Tigers offensively. With the loss, Missouri drops to 3-2 on the season.
NOTE:
Alyssa Zabala earned all-tournament honors after picking up a pair of wins, including a complete game shutout of RV/23 Missouri at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The freshman RHP after allowing only one unearned run for a 0.00 ERA while delivering nine strikeouts and scattering three hits in 10.0 innings of work for an opponent batting average of .097.
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The Cardinals finished their opening weekend with a 4-1 record and three straight shutouts to finish the tournament.
"We had a solid first weekend and we are going to continue to get better," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We didn't show our best selves against Kentucky but our response was exactly what it needed to be. We set a great tone on the mound and our offense got the job done up and down the lineup."
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Louisville 8 – Howard 0 (5 inn.)
In the game, the Cardinals connected on eight hits, including two doubles and Elana Ornelas' first career home run. Graduate senior Taylor Roby and junior Gabby Holloway combined for the one-hit to help Louisville move to 3-1 on the season. Ornelas led Louisville with a career-best day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
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The Cards opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second. Sophomore Korbe Otis drew a leadoff walk and stole second Freshman Sarah Gordon followed with an RBI single. Ornelas singled and Ally Alexander was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Easton Lotus who earned a walk to bring home Gordon.
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Louisville used two walks and two hits – including Ornelas' two-run homer to plate four more runs in the third. Roby led off with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Mia Forsythe. Otis volowed with a walk and both runners advanced on Gordon's sacrifice bunt. Junior Vanessa Miller's RBI hit sent Forsythe home and Otis crossed the plate on a double steal attempt. Ornelas then launched a shot over the right field fence to make the score 6-0.
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In the fifth inning, Miller was hit by a pitch and Ornelas connected on her third hit of the game. Alexander followed with a double to plate Miller. Paige Geraghty's RBI single sent Ornelas home for the 8-0 final.
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Howard's best chance to score came in the third inning when Sydni Jones reached on an error and Lealani Ricks followed with a walk to put a runner in scoring position with one out, but Roby and the Louisville defense retired the next to batters to preserve the shutout.
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Roby (1-0) earned the win and did not allow a hit while striking out two in 3.0 innings. Gabby Holloway registered one strikeout in two innings.
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Amelia Weber (1-1) took the loss for Howard (2-2) after giving up four earned runs on three hits in 2.0 innings. Sidney Fletcher delivered the Bison's lone hit of the game.
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Louisville 4 – RV/23 Missouri 0
In the continuation of Saturday's halted game against Missouri, the teams resumed the contest where they left off - in the top of the fourth with the Cardinals up 2-0 courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles by Daisy Hess and Taylor Roby.
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Missouri's Julia Crenshaw led off with a hit, but the Cardinal defense came up strong with a double play by second baseman Easton Lotus, shortstop Daisy Hess and Ornelas at first base to end the top of the fourth.
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The Cardinals' offense picked up where it left off before the game was halted when Ornelas doubled and scored on a hit by Alexander to push Louisville's lead to 3-0.
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The fifth inning brought another Louisville run. This time Otis powered a ball to right field. The sophomore sped around the bases and was safe on a play at the plate for an inside the park home run to make the score 4-0.
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After surrendering a hit in the top of the fourth, Zabala retired the next eight batters until Crenshaw connected on her second hit of the game to lead off the seventh, but the Tigers would get no closer as the Cardinals' defense held up for the 4-0 victory.
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Freshman Alyssa Zabala (2-0) earned her first career complete game shutout while scattering three hits and striking out six. Otis went 2-for-2 with one run and Roby was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Lotus also finished with a 2-for-4 with a run.
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Jordan Weber (0-2) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 2.2 innings. Julia Crenshaw went 2-for-3 to lead the Tigers offensively. With the loss, Missouri drops to 3-2 on the season.
NOTE:
Alyssa Zabala earned all-tournament honors after picking up a pair of wins, including a complete game shutout of RV/23 Missouri at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The freshman RHP after allowing only one unearned run for a 0.00 ERA while delivering nine strikeouts and scattering three hits in 10.0 innings of work for an opponent batting average of .097.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Booe, Sam (1-0)
L: Anabella Valadez (0-2)
Base Running:
CS: McKenzie Ogden 1 ; Christina Mayer 1
Batting:
3B: Lotus, Easton 1 ; Miller, Vanessa 1 ; Geraghty, Paige 1
HR: Roby, Taylor 1
RBI: Lotus, Easton 1 ; Otis, Korbe 1 ; Roby, Taylor 2 ; Geraghty, Paige 5 ; Alexander, Ally 1
SF: Alexander, Ally 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lotus, Easton 1 ; Otis, Korbe 1 ; Roby, Taylor 1 ; Forsythe, Mia 1 ; Grant, Maddi 1 ; Gordon, Sarah 1 ; Miller, Vanessa 2 ; Geraghty, Paige 1 ; Ornelas, Elana 1
SB: Lotus, Easton 1 ; Ornelas, Elana 1
CS: Lotus, Easton 1
HBP: Miller, Vanessa 1 ; Ornelas, Elana 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballRHP
/ Softball
RHP
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