Cards Come Up Short against Furman

Saturday, February 24

Conway, S.C.

10:00 AM

University of Louisville

Furman

Photo by: Chad Harmon

February 24, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Louisville’s late-inning rally attempt falls short in 13-8 loss to Furman

By: Lori Harmon

CONWAY, S.C. – The University of Louisville softball team fell 13-8 to Furman in the opening game of the Battle at the Beach Saturday morning at Coastal Carolina's St. John Stadium.

The Cardinals (10-2) will return to action Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. when they take on host Coastal Carolina.

The Paladins (8-3) jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning behind a three-run homer by Kiley Perry. The second inning brought two more Furman runs, this time courtesy of Perry's two-run double. Ainsley Yoshizumi's grand slam in the third extended the lead to 9-0.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning when Kiley Goff was hit by a pitch and walks to Bailee Richardson and Riley Frizell loaded the bases for Vanessa Miller who delivered a two-run single. With pinch-runner Pickle Winkler at third base, Miller proceeded to steal second, putting two runners in scoring position, but a double play ended the threat.

Louisville kept chipping away at the lead, plating two runs in the fourth inning. Holloway led off with her second hit of the game and Ally Alexander followed with a walk. Chelsea Mack's fielder's choice saw Alexander out at second, but Goff earned a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch sent Hollway home and Mack crossed the plate on Bailee Richardson's RBI groundout to make the score 9-4.

Furman used four hits including back-to-back home runs by Perry and Hannah Poole to take a 13-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

The Cards countered with three runs – all with two outs - in the sixth inning. Mack reached on a fielder's choice, took second and eventually scored on Richardson's double. Frizell's single put runners on the corners and a wild pitch sent Richardson home. Miller followed with an RBI single to make the score 13-7.

Louisville attempted to put together a rally, adding another run and loading the bases in the seventh inning. Paige Geraghty singled to start the inning, moved to third on Holloway's hit and crossed the plate when Alexander reached on a fielder's choice. Mack earned a walk and Goff was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on deck, but a groundout ended the game.

Holloway led the Cardinals at the plate with a career-high three hits and scored a run. Miller finished the game with two hits and three RBIs. Geraghty also had a pair of hits and a run while Richardson had two runs and a pair of RBIs to stand among UofL offensive leaders in the game. Holloway (1-1) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits and striking out one in 1.1 innings of work. The Louisville pitching staff delivered eight strikeouts in the game with Sam Booe firing five Ks in 2.2 innings of relief.

Emme Buzhardt (1-2) picked up the win, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of relief. Perry paced the Paladins at the plate with four hits, including a pair of home runs and a double and driving in seven of their 13 runs.