Louisville Falls to No. 22 Northwestern, Beats Northern Kentucky on Final Day of Cardinal Classic

Sunday, March 5

LOUISVILLE, KY

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

13-6

Northwestern

9-7

Northwestern

Louisville

Louisville Falls to No. 22 Northwestern, Beats Northern Kentucky on Final Day of Cardinal Classic

March 05, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Freshman Alyssa Zabala delivers a career-high 12 strikeouts in a complete game shutout against Northern Kentucky

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville lost to No. 22/22 Northwestern and followed with a 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky Sunday at Ulmer Stadium on the final day of the Cardinal Classic.

The Cardinals (14-6) will return to action next weekend when they open Atlantic Conference play with a three-game series at No. 12/14 Duke.

No. 22 Northwestern 11 – Louisville 1
In Louisville's first game of the day, Korbe Otis went 2-for-3 and Makayla Hurst had a pinch hit RBI single to give the Cards a 1-0 lead, but No. 22/22 Northwestern's offense was too much to overcome as the Wildcats scored 11 runs in the final four innings of the game.

Louisville jumped on the scoreboard with a run in the second when Vanessa Miller reached on an error an eventually came home on Hurst's RBI hit.

The lead held until the fourth inning when the Wildcats (9-7) used three hits and a Louisville miscue to plate three unearned runs. Northwestern went on to add five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh en route to the 11-1 win.

The Cardinals had a chance to push another run across in the seventh when Paige Geraghty earned a walk and moved to third on a two-out double by Otis, but would get no closer as a groundout ended the game.

Taylor Roby (5-2) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings.

Danielle Williams (2-1) picked up the win for the Wildcats, surrendering one unearned run on five hits and striking out six. Nikki tallied three RBIs to help lead Northwestern at the plate.

Louisville 2 – Northern Kentucky 0
Freshman Alyssa Zabala registered a career-high 12 strikeouts and a complete game shutout in the Cardinals' 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky in the final game of the weekend.

The teams played through three scoreless innings before the Cardinals broke through with a pair of runs in the fourth. Geraghty reached safely on a fielder's choice. One out later, Otis sent a triple to right field and an error on the throw to third sent her home to make the score 2-0.

Zabala (6-2) was masterful throughout the contest, scattering three hits in seven innings and striking out the final four batters she faced to finish the game. It marked the most for a Louisville pitcher since April 26, 2014 when Caralisa Connell's struck out 12 in the 5-0 win over Temple at Ulmer Stadium.

Otis was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and extended her hitting streak 10 games, reaching safely via a hit or walk in the last 13 games. Graduate senior Taylor Roby was 1-for-1 with three walks to help pace Louisville at the plate.