Louisville Set for Cardinal Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team will continue its home stand this weekend when the Cardinals welcome Northern Kentucky, No. 22/22 Northwestern and Toledo to Ulmer Stadium for the Cardinal Classic.

After the original tournament schedule was adjusted due to rain in the forecast for Friday, Cardinals will begin play on Thursday in a single game against Northern Kentucky at 4 p.m.

GAME DAY INFORMATION
Cardinal Classic
Dates: March 2-5, 2023
Venue: Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium
Coverage: Live Scoring | ACCNX (Louisville games)– Suzanne Bush (PXP), Dr. Joanna Lane (Analyst) | Game Notes
Admission: Free
Gates open: One (1) hour prior to the first game of the day
Clear Bag Policy: A Clear Bag Policy remains in place at all UofL athletics facilities. Fans may bring one clear bag, either a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag, or a 12 x 6 x 12 inches clear tote bag.
Parking: Fans are encouraged to park in the Floyd Street Parking Garage for a $5 fee.
Social Media: Fans can follow Louisville Softball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Louisville SB

2023 Cardinal Classic (Revised Schedule as of March 1)
Thursday, March 2
4 PM – Northern Kentucky vs Louisville
Saturday, March 4
10 AM - Toledo vs. Louisville, 10:00 AM
12:30 PM - Toledo vs. Northern Kentucky
3:00 PM - Northwestern vs. Northern Kentucky
5:30 PM - Northwestern vs. Louisville
Sunday, March 5
10:00 AM - Northern Kentucky vs. Toledo
12:30 PM - Toledo vs. Northwestern
3:00 PM - Northwestern vs. Louisville
5:30 PM - Northern Kentucky vs. Louisville

QUICK HITS
• UofL brings an 11-4 overall record and a five-game winning streak into the weekend.
• In 15 games, the Cardinals have produced six shutouts and five eight-run rule victories.
• Korbe Otis is the current ACC Player of the Week after leading Louisville at the plate in the UCF Knights Classic last weekend.
• Otis has registered a team-best 15 runs and is 5-for-5 in stolen bases. She recently tied the school record with three doubles in the win at No. 23/25 UCF.
• In last Saturday's 8-0 win against Bradley, graduate senior Taylor Roby hit a two-run homer two extend her career home run total to 43, taking sole possession of Louisville's all-time home run record. The previous mark of 42 was set by Courtney Moore who played for the Cardinals from 2004-07. Roby now has 45 homers on the season.
• Senior Daisy Hess has reached base via a hit or walk in 12 straight games while senior Hannah File is on a six-game hitting streak.
• File leads the team with a .500 batting average. Roby has belted out a team-best five home runs with 14 RBIs.
• Louisville is batting .310 as a team with six players hitting above .300.
• Alyssa Zabala (5-1) carries a 1.99 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 31.2 innings of work. The freshman was named to the NFCA Leadoff All-Tournament team after an impressive collegiate debut.
• 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 104 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
NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Series Record: Louisville leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2014 - Louisville won 8-0 at Ulmer Stadium
Scouting the Norse: Northern Kentucky (3-7) is coming off a 1-4 outing at the Coach B Classic with a win over SIUE and losses to Southern Illinois, SIUE, and DePaul.
• The Norse are led at the plate by Ella LeMonier with a .419 batting average and five stolen bases.
• Lauryn Hicks has three starts on the year and 16 strikeouts posting a 3.79 ERA

NORTHWESTERN
Series Record: Tied 7-7
Last Meeting: March 7, 2020 - UL won 3-1 at Ulmer Stadium.
Scouting the Wildcats: Northwestern enters the weekend with a 6-6 record after going 2-2 the following weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic.
• Last weekend, the Wildcats went 2-2 at the Mary Nutter Classic. Northwestern opened the weekend with a pair of 2-1 losses losing to then-No. 22 Oregon 2-1 and then-No. 1 UCLA the following day. The Wildcats closed out the tournament with a pair of wins beating then-No.18 Kentucky 9-3 and San Diego 2-1.
• Jordyn Rudd leads the team with a .324 batting average, two home runs, and nine RBIs
• Cami Henry (3-1) leads the Wildcats in the circle with a 1.96 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 25 innings of work

TOLEDO
Series Record: Louisville leads 3-0
Last Meeting: March 24, 2006 - UL won 12-0 at Ulmer Stadium
Scouting the Rockets: Toledo (2-7) is coming off an 0-5 performance at the Mardi Gras Mambo
• Jenna Kroll leads the team with a .400 batting average, two home runs, and six RBIs
• Erin Hunt has five starts on the year and 35 strikeouts posting a 4.09 ERA

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will go back on the road to face No. 12/14 Duke in their Atlantic Coast Conference opening series March 10-12 and will stay on the road for a midweek matchup at Charlotte.

LAST UP
The University of Louisville softball team defeated Bellarmine 13-0 in its home opener Tuesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. With their fifth-straight win, the Cardinals improve to 11-4 on the season.
• In her first collegiate start in the circle, Cassie Grizzard (1-1) scattered three hits and tied a career-high with four strikeouts as she went the distance in the five-inning shutout. Junior Paige Geraghty led the Cardinals at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple while tying her career high RBI total with five in the contest.

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Players Mentioned

Hannah File

Paige Geraghty

Cassie Grizzard

Daisy Hess

Korbe Otis

Taylor Roby

Alyssa Zabala

University of Louisville Athletics