Cards Come Up Short in 4-3 Loss at No. 23/25 UCF

Friday, February 24

Orlando, FL

7:00 PM

University of Louisville

6-4

UCF

8-7

Louisville

UCF

Photo by: Amanda Roussin

February 24, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Cards take an early lead, but UCF scored a pair of runs in the sixth to win 4-3

By: Lori Harmon

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team built an early lead, but host No. 23/25 UCF scored three late-inning runs to edge the Cardinals 4-3 Friday evening in the UCF Knights Classic.

Louisville (6-4) held a 3-1 lead entering the fifth inning, but UCF (8-7) countered with a run in the fifth and a pair of runs in the sixth to pull ahead 4-3. The Cards put together a rally with two runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but a diving catch in right field ended the game.

The Cardinals struck early with a pair of runs top of the first. With two outs in the inning, Taylor Roby and Korbe Otis earned back-to-back walks to bring up Sarah Gordon who delivered an RBI single. Hannah File's base hit plated Otis to put Louisville on top 2-0.

Louisville's defense came up strong in the bottom of the first when Jada Cody delivered a hit and attempted to score on Shannon Doherty's single to centerfield, but Otis fielded the ball and fired a strike to catcher Sarah Gordon for an out at the plate to hold the Knights at bay.

UCF broke through with Savannah Adams' leadoff home run in the third to cut the lead in half.

The Cards extended their lead to 3-1 in the fourth. File registered her second hit of the day with a leadoff single and took second on a wild pitch to set up Elana Ornelas' pinch hit RBI double.

The Knights answered in the home half of the fifth behind Doherty's RBI double to make the score 3-2.

UCF tacked two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Jasmine Williams singled and Aubrey Evans walked to put two runners on for Kennedy Searcy who sent a hit to centerfield to send Williams home and an error pushed the go-ahead run across the plate.

The Cardinals threatened in the top of the seventh when Easton Lotus reached on a fielder's choice and Taylor Roby. After Mia Forsythe entered to pinch run for Roby, a passed ball placed the tying run on third and the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs. File laced a ball to right field, but UCF's Chloe Evans made a diving catch for the final out of the game.

Freshman Cassie Grizzard (0-1) took the loss, giving up three runs, one earned on four hits while delivering a career-high four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief. File finished the game with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and scored a run.

Sarah Willis (1-1) picked up the win, holding the Cards scoreless and surrendering one hit while striking out four in 3.2 innings of relief. Doherty went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead the Knights offensively.

The Cardinals will return to action on Saturday when they take on Columbia at 11:30 a.m. and Bradley at 2 p.m.