Friday, February 24
Orlando, FL
7:00 PM
University of Louisville
at
UCF
Photo by: Amanda Roussin
Cards Hit the Road for UCF Knights Classic
February 23, 2023 | Softball
Cards will face No. 23/25 UCF, Columbia, Bradley and Purdue this weekend
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
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OF
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INF
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OF
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RHP
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RHP
/ SoftballMonday, April 20
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Monday, March 02
Saturday, February 28
