Cards Beat Pitt 9-6 to Complete Series Sweep

Sunday, March 19

LOUISVILLE, KY

2:00 PM

University of Louisville

18-9, 0

Pittsburgh

14-10, 0

Pittsburgh

Louisville

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

March 19, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Louisville prevails in a back-and-forth game that included six lead changes

By: Kennedy Knisely and Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team defeated Pitt 9-6 to complete an Atlantic Coast Conference series sweep Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium.

The series finale was a back-and-forth game which included six lead changes before freshman Sarah Gordon's two-run single in the fifth inning put Louisville up for good.

In the game, Pitt held an 8-7 advantage in hits, but Louisville registered three home runs, including two by Taylor Roby and a solo shot from Daisy Hess along with Gordon's game-winning hit to complete the series sweep. Freshman Alyssa Zabala (9-3) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on three hits and striking out three in 2.1 innings of relief. Roby went 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and Gordon finished the game with three RBIs to help lead the Cardinals at the plate.

Pitt (1-10, 0-3 ACC) used a pair of doubles to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Louisville (18-9, 4-2 ACC) countered in the home half of the second when Roby homered and Easton Lotus scored off of an RBI single from Ally Alexander.

The Panthers took advantage of two hits and an error to score two unearned runs, pulling ahead 3-2 the third inning.

Once again, Louisville answered - this time with a pair of back-to-back home runs in the fourth. Roby smashed a shot over the fence in right centerfield for her team-best 10th homer of the season, extending her school career-record total to 50. Hess sent the ball over the left field fence for her third homer of the season to put the Cardinals back on top 4-3.

Pitt continued to fight back, regaining the lead with a two-run homer by Brunson in the fifth inning.

The Cards entered the bottom of the fifth trailing 5-4, Louisville's offense continued to produce runs. After a walk to Ally Alexander, a sacrifice bunt ty Paige Geraghty and a single by Korbe Otis put two runners in scoring position, Gordon rocketed a hit into left field to give Louisville a 6-5 lead.

The sixth inning brought three insurance runs as Louisville took a 9-5 lead with a bases-loaded walk issued to Gordon and a two-run single by File.

The Panthers threatened again in the seventh after Bunson delivered an RBI single and Cami Compson walked to bring the tying to the plate, but a pop up to Hess at shortstop ended the game with the final score 9-6.

Yvonne Whaley led the Panthers with a 3-for-4, three-run performance at the plate while Brunson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Adriana Romano (2-1) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on one hit in 0.1 innings of relief.

Louisville will return to action on Tuesday when the Cardinals travel to Richmond, Ky. for a midweek contest at Eastern Kentucky