Cards Defeat Toledo, Fall to No. 22 Northwestern Saturday in the Cardinal Classic

Saturday, March 4

LOUISVILLE, KY

10:00 AM

University of Louisville

13-4

Toledo

2-8

Toledo

Louisville

Sarah Gordon at the plate against Northwestern

Photo by: Rachel Klotz | Louisville Athletics

Cards Defeat Toledo, Fall to No. 22 Northwestern Saturday in the Cardinal Classic

March 04, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

Cards beat Toledo 8-4 in the first game of the day, fall 4-1 to No. 22 Northwestern in the nightcap

By: Trey Curry

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team defeated Toledo 8-4 and fell 4-1 to No. 22/22 Northwestern on day two of the Cardinal Classic Saturday at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville (13-5) will return to the diamond tomorrow with another matchup against No. 22/22 Northwestern at 3:00 p.m., followed by the final game of the Cardinal Classic against Toledo at 5:30 p.m.

Louisville 8 – Toledo 5
Freshman Sarah Gordon went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, sophomore Korbe Otis singled and scored a pair of runs and senior Makayla Hurst connected on a two-run single to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Taja Felder (1-0) picked up the win, holding the Rockets scoreless and striking out one in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

The Cards struck early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Easton Lotus singled and came home on a hit by Korbe Otis. An RBI single by Sarah Gordon plated Otis.

The Rockets (3-10) used three hits including a two-run triple by Anna Dixon to even the score at 2-2 in the top of the second inning.

A bases-loaded wild pitch in the second inning sent Paige Geraghty home and put the Cards back on top 3-2. The third inning brought two more Louisville runs courtesy of Hurst's pinch hit single which brough home Otis and Gordon, pushing the lead to 5-2.

After Toledo made the score 5-3 on Aleah Marra's RBI groundout in the fifth, the Cards used back-to-back RBI doubles by Vanessa Miller and Elana Ornelas and a sacrifice fly from Ally Alexander to make the score 8-3.

The Rockets attempted to put together a rally in the seventh, capitalizing on a trio of Louisville miscues to score an unearned run, but the scored stood final at 8-4

Madison McKay (0-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. Lexi Eckman and Riley Mohr each had two hits for the Rockets.

No. 22/22 Northwestern 4 – Louisville 1
In Louisville's nightcap against No. 22 Northwester, the first four innings were a pitcher's duel, as both teams only managed one hit and the game was scoreless heading to the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, Northwestern (8-6) got on the board first with triples from Hannah Cady and Ayana Lindsey and a single from Grace Nieto to make the score 2-0.

In the bottom half, Miller was hit by a pitch and eventually scored by a pinch hit single from senior Makayla Hurst, leading to a score of 2-1 heading to the sixth.

The Wildcats used a pair of walks and an error to put another run on the board in the sixth. Following that, Louisville could not capitalize on a hit by graduate senior Taylor Roby and a triple by Otis, resulting in a score of 3-1 after six.

Three consecutive singles led to another run for Northwestern in the top half of the seventh, bringing the score to 4-1.

Miller was again hit by a pitch to begin the bottom half of the final inning but was eventually stranded at second to end the game.

Freshman Alyssa Zabala (5-2) took the loss, surrendering two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings of work.

Lauren Boyd (2-2) picked up the win for Northwestern, allowing one earned run on one hit, one walk, and striking out four through six innings. Danielle Williams came in and recorded the final three outs for the Wildcats, picking up her second save.

NOTES:

Sarah Gordon led the Cardinals offensively on the day, going 4-for-6 with two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI.
Korbe Otis extended her hitting streak to eight games and has reached base via a hit or walk in 11 straight games.
Daisy Hess has reached base via a hit or walk in 15 straight games.