Seventh Inning Rally Falls Short in Loss at No. 16/16 Kentucky

Wednesday, March 29

Lexington, KY

6:30 PM

University of Louisville

22-10

Kentucky

21-7-1

Louisville

Kentucky

Photo by: Karthik Kalvakuri | Louisville Athletics

Seventh Inning Rally Falls Short in Loss at No. 16/16 Kentucky

March 29, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Cards plate three runs in the seventh inning, but come up short in 7-4 loss at Kentucky

By: Lori Harmon

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team staged a seventh inning rally, but fell short in a 7-4 loss to in-state rival No. 16/16 Kentucky in a midweek matchup at John Cropp Stadium.

With the Cards trailing 7-1 in the top of the seventh, junior Paige Geraghty reached on a two-base error and came home on a double by sophomore Korbe Otis. Freshman Sarah Gordon stepped up to the plate and smashed a shot over right center field to make the score 7-4 with no outs in the inning. Another Kentucky miscue allowed File to reach and a wild pitch moved her into scoring position with the tying run on deck, but a groundout ended the game.

Gordon went 2-for-4 with a home run, Otis had an RBI double and scored two runs and Geraghty finished 2-for-3 and scored a run to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Freshman Alyssa Zabala (10-4) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out one in three innings.

Alexia Lacatena (8-2) got the win giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and striking out two in six innings while Rylea Smith led Kentucky offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

The Cardinals (22-10) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first behind a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior Daisy Hess. Otis led off the game with a walk and Gordon followed with a single. A walk to Taylor Roby loaded the bases for Hess.

The Wildcats (21-7-1) used three hits and an error to plate three runs and take a 3-1 lead in the home half of the first.

Kentucky added another run in the third behind Meeko Harrison's RBI single. The fourth inning saw the Wildcats capitalize on five hits and another Louisville miscue to plate three unearned runs extending the lead to 7-1.

The Cards had a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth when Taylor Roby led off with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Vanessa Miller who moved to second when Hess earned a walk. Makayla Hurst sent a fly ball into foul territory in right field, moving Miller to third. Hess proceeded to steal second, placing two runners in scoring position with one out, but a pair of groundouts ended the frame.

UK also had a chance to pad its lead in the bottom of the sixth when a pair of hits and a stolen base placed runners on second and third with no outs, but freshman pitcher Cassie Grizzard entered the circle and retired the next three batters with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.

"Although it wasn't quite enough, I thought we showed a lot of resilience and heart battling back in the seventh," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "Paige [Geraghty] did a great job for us starting that inning with a nice bunt and advance and then huge at bats from Korbe [Otis] and Sarah [Gordon]. Gabby [Holloway] and Cassie [Grizzard] both had nice middle innings for us; Cassie in particular keeping them at bay in the sixth with a big strikeout and groundout."

The Cardinals will return to action this weekend with a trip to Syracuse for a three-game ACC series starting on Friday.

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