Roby’s Homer Lifts Cards to 6-4 Win at Virginia

Saturday, April 22

Charlottesville, VA

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

31-14, 12-4

Virginia

29-17, 8-12

Louisville

Virginia

Photo by: Chad Harmon

April 22, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Taylor Roby’s 19th home run of the season broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning

By: Lori Harmon

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Taylor Roby's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-4 win over Virginia Saturday evening at Palmer Park.

With the win, the Cardinals clinch the series and improve to 31-14 on the season and 12-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Virginia drops to 29-17 (8-12 ACC). The series finale will be televised on the ACC Network Sunday at 4 p.m.

One day after setting the school record for single season home runs, Roby extended her season tally to 19 after Virginia tied the game. Sarah Gordon also turned in an impressive performance at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two singles and scored a pair of runs while driving in two.

The Cards opened the scoring early when Korbe Otis took the second pitch of the ballgame over the left field fence for her sixth home run of the season. One out later, Sarah Gordon sent a solo shot over the centerfield fence. Her seventh homer of the season put the Cards on top 2-0.

Louisville tacked on another run in the third when Gordon tripled Otis home to make the score 3-0.

The Cavaliers broke through in the bottom of the fifth behind Tori Gilbert's two-out solo home run.

The Cardinals got the run back in the top of the sixth. Hannah File led off the frame with a hit and Daisy Hess followed with a walk. A pinch hit single by Makayla Hurst loaded the bases with no outs for Elana Ornelas who delivered an RBI single to push Louisville's lead to 4-1.

Virginia battled back in the home half of the sixth, capitalizing on a walk and three doubles to plate three runs to even the score at 4-4.

In the top of the seventh, Gordon led off with an infield single to bring up Roby, who smashed a no-doubter over the centerfield fence to put the Cards on top 6-4.

Gabby Holloway (3-1) entered the game to get the final out of the sixth and held the Cavaliers at bay in the seventh to get the win with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief.

NOTES:

Saturday's win marked the fifth straight for Louisville.
The Cardinals have now won four of six ACC series this season
Taylor Roby extends her school-record season home run total to 19 and her program-record career tally to 59
Roby has reached via a hit or walk in 10 straight games
Roby stands second on Louisville's career RBI list with 176. Chelsea Bemis (2008-11) owns the record at 191.
Korbe Otis has reached via a hit or walk in all but three of Louisville's 45 games.
Otis is now tied for fourth with Carmyn Greenwood ((2022) on Louisville's list for single season runs scored with 54. She needs five more to move into a tie for third with Melissa Roth (2010).