Cards Hit the Road for UCF Knights Classic

2023 UCF Knights Classic
Dates: Feb. 24-26, 2023
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Venue: UCF Softball Complex
Opponents: UCF, Columbia, Bradley, Purdue
Television: ESPN+ | Louisville Game Notes

The University of Louisville softball team return to action this weekend when the Cardinals hit the road for the third straight week - this time to Orlando, Fla., for the UCF Knights Classic. UofL will open the weekend Friday at 7 p.m. against host UCF. Action will continue Saturday against Columbia at 11:30 a.m. and Bradley at 2 p.m. The Cards will wrap up the tournament Sunday when they take on Purdue at 11 a.m. and UCF at 1 p.m.

QUICK HITS
• UofL brings a 6-3 record into the weekend following a 2-2 performance in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• The Cardinals are receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball coaches' poll.
• In Sunday's 2-1 win against Wisconsin, Taylor Roby registered her 42nd career home run, tying UofL's all-time record set by Courtney Moore (2004-07).
• Senior Daisy Hess has reached base via a hit or walk in six straight games while junior Vanessa Miller carries a five-game reached-base streak.
• Senior Elana Ornelas leads the team with a .417 batting average.
• Sophomore Easton Lotus leads the team with four multi-hit games.
• Alyssa Zabala (3-1) carries a 1.35 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 20.2 The freshman was named to the NFCA Leadoff All-Tournament team after an impressive collegiate debut.
• The Cardinals return 13 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's team including two-time NFCA All-Southeast Region selection Taylor Roby and 2022 ACC all-freshman honoree Korbe Otis. Louisville also welcomes six newcomers to the 2023 roster including transfers Paige Geraghty and Daisy Hess.
• Louisville was picked to finish seventh in the 2023 ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

THE HOLLY APRILE ERA
• Head coach Holly Aprile is entering her fifth season as UofL's head coach. During her time at the helm – which includes the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, Aprile guided the Cardinals to 99 wins and an NCAA regional final appearance in 2019.
• Prior to her arrival at Louisville, Aprile, the 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.

CARDS AGAINST THE OPPONENTS
UCF
Series Record: Louisville leads 4-2
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2018 - UofL won 5-3 at UCF
Scouting the Knights: UCF enters the week with a 5-7 overall following a pair of midweek losses to Louisiana and Stetson.
• Last weekend, the Knights went 2-3 at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. After opening the weekend with a 8-2 win over then-No. 25 Michigan, the Knights lost to Texas A&M 7-0. UCF fell short in extra innings to then-No. 17 Duke and No. 12 Alabama before closing out the tournament with a 5-4 win over Mississippi State.
• Chloe Evans leads the team with a .351 batting average, three home runs, five doubles and 12 RBIs.
• Kaitlyn Felton (2-2) has carried the bulk of the pitching duties, logging 24.2 innings with 28 strikeouts and a 3.16 ERA.

Columbia
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: March 10, 2002 -UofL won 8-0 at Missouri
Scouting the Lions: The UCF Knights Classic will mark Columbia's season-opening weekend. Last year, the Lions posted a 12-26 overall record and an 8-13 mark in the Ivy League.

BRADLEY
Series Record: Louisville leads 8-0
Last Meeting: March 5, 2021 - UofL won 9-1 at Ulmer Stadium.
Scouting the Braves: Bradley (4-5) is coming off of a 3-2 showing at the Roar City Invite with wins over Alabama A&M, North Alabama and Tennessee State and a loss to North Alabama.
• The Braves are led at the plate with a .483 batting average and eight runs. Bailey Sample has belted out a team-best three homers and driven in 10 RBIs.
• Grace French has seen five starts in the circle with 15 strikeouts in 19.0 innings and a 9.95 ERA.

PURDUE
Series Record: Louisville leads 7-2
Last Meeting: Feb. 18, 2017 - UofL won 9-1 at North Carolina
Scouting the Boilermakers: Purdue brings a 5-3 record into the weekend following a 3-1 performance in last weekend's the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in which the Boilermakers swept Syracuse in a pair of games and split a pair of contests with NC State.
• Kiara Dillon leads the team with a .462 batting average and is 5-for-5 in stolen bases.
• Madi Elish (2-0) has logged a team-high 24.1 innings and issued 15 strikeouts.

UP NEXT
After three straight weeks on the road to start the season, the Cardinals will open a six-game home stand at Ulmer Stadium starting with a Feb. 28 matchup against cross-town rival Bellarmine. Next weekend, Louisville will play host to Northwestern, Northern Kentucky and Toledo in the Cardinal Classic.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Geraghty

Daisy Hess

Easton Lotus

Vanessa Miller

Elana Ornelas

Korbe Otis

Taylor Roby

Alyssa Zabala

University of Louisville Athletics