Cards Wrap Up Joan Joyce Classic with Back-to-Back Shutouts

Saturday, February 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

9:00 AM

University of Louisville

9-1

Maine

0-7

Louisville

Maine

Cards Wrap Up Joan Joyce Classic with Back-to-Back Shutouts

February 17, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights vs. Maine Highlights vs. Michigan

Cards beat Maine 8-0 in six innings and Michigan 2-0 to close out the Joan Joyce Classic

By: Lori Harmon

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team posted back-to-back shutouts, defeating Maine 8-0 and Michigan 2-0 to close out the Joan Joyce Classic Saturday at FAU Softball Stadium.With the wins, Louisville improves to 10-1 on the season marking the best start since 2012.

The Cardinals will return to action next weekend when they travel to Conway, S.C., for Coastal Carolina's Battle at the Beach.

Louisville 8 – Maine 0 (6 inn.)
After two scoreless innings, the Cardinals scored four runs in the top of the third. Daisy Hess got the offense started with an infield single, Kiley Goff was hit by a pitch and Riley Frizell walked to load the bases for Bailee Richardson's two-run single. Paige Geraghty singled to load the bases again, setting the table for Vanessa Miller's ground rule double which plated pinch-runner Mia Forsythe and Richardson.

Maine (0-7) had a scoring opportunity in the fifth when a pair of walks and a wild pitch on a third strike loaded the bases with one out, but Lindsey Mullen entered the game and delivered a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.

The sixth inning saw the Cards put up a four-spot highlighted by Frizell's three-run homer. Maddi Grant led off the frame with a single and Chelsea Mack walked to put two runners on for Kiley Goff's RBI hit. Frizell stepped up to the plate and crushed a shot over the right field fence for her team-best fourth home run of the season to put Louisville on top 8-0.

Brooke Gray (3-0) picked up the win, holding the Black Bears scoreless on three hits and striking out a career-high seven batters. Mullen earned her first save and combined on the shutout, allowing one hit and fanning three in 1.2 innings of relief.

Miller went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, Richardson drove in a pair of runs and Frizell finished the game with three RBIs to lead the Cardinals at the plate.

Isabelle True (0-2) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in 2.1 innings.

Louisville 2 – Michigan 0
In Louisville's second game of the day, Alyssa Zabala tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout while Daisy Hess and Ally Alexander each had a hit and a scored a run and Paige Geraghty went 2-for-2 to help lead the Cards to a 2-0 win over Michigan (6-2).

The Cardinals quickly got on the scoreboard with a run in the first inning. Daisy Hess drew a leadoff walk and stole second. A sacrifice bunt by Kiley Goff moved Hess to third and she crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Louisville manufactured another run in the bottom of the fifth when Ally Alexander laid down a bunt single, took second on the throw. After moving to third on an infield hit by Chelsea Mack, a wild pitch sent Alexander home to make the score 2-0.

The Cardinals' defense made several outstanding plays including diving catches by Chelsea Mack to help Zabala (4-1) allow only three runners to move into scoring position en route to Louisville's sixth shutout of the season.

Jessica LeBeau (1-2) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out two in six innings of work. Maddie Erickson had both of the Wolverines' hits in the game.