Sunday, February 25
Conway, S.C.
9:30 AM
University of Louisville
12-2
11
vs
3
Bowling Green
1-2
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3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Bowling Green
3
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
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Louisville
0
3
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8
11
11
1
Photo by: Chad Harmon
Venturelli’s Grand Slam Completes Comeback in 11-3 Win Over Bowling Green State
February 25, 2024 | Softball
Freshman Ava Venturelli’s pinch hit grand slam caps Louisville’s eight-run sixth inning
CONWAY, S.C. – Freshman Ava Venturelli's pinch hit grand slam capped an eight-run sixth inning as the University of Louisville softball team overcame a three-run deficit to beat Bowling Green State 11-3 Sunday morning at Coastal Carolina's St. John Stadium in their final game of the Battle at the Beach.
In the game, the Cards outhit the Falcons 11-5 with Riley Frizell going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Chelsea Mack finishing the game with a 3-for-3, two run performance at the plate to help lead Louisville offensively. Alyssa Zabala (6-1) earned the win after holding the Falcons scoreless on one hit and two strikeouts in two innings of relief.
After Bowling Green State (1-2) used a pair of hits and an error to jump to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cardinals (12-2) countered with three runs of their own in the home half of the second. Jac Hasty led off with a walk, took second on Ally Alexander's sacrifice bunt and moved to third when Mack reached on a bunt single. After a walk issued to Bailee Richardson loaded the bases, Frizell followed with a two-out, two-run single to pull the Cards within a run. Vanessa Miller's base hit plated Richardson to even the score at 3-3.
The game remained deadlocked through the next three innings before Louisville erupted for an eight-spot in the sixth. Mack got the offense started with her third hit of the game and Goff was hit by a pitch for the second time in the contest. Richardson's infield hit loaded the bases for Frizell's two-run single which put the Cards on top 5-3 for their first lead of the game. Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, this time for Gabby Holloway who walked to plate Richardson. Pickle Winkler followed with an RBI single, extending the lead to 7-3.
With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Venturelli entered the game as a pinch hitter and smashed a 1-2 count over the fence in left centerfield for her first career home run - and grand slam - sending the Cardinals to an 11-3 walk-off win via the eight-run rule.
Alyvia Roth (0-1) took the loss for Bowling Green after giving up five earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of relief. Peyton Deleis paced the Falcons offensively going 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Louisville will return to action with their home opener on February 27 when the Cardinals play host to Western Kentucky at 5 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
NOTES:
• At 12-2 on the season, the Cardinals are off to their best start since 2013 when the team also had a 12-2 record through its first 14 games.
• Louisville is hitting .313 as a team with five players carrying an average of .300 or better.
• Riley Frizell has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last 12 games and in 13 of Louisville's 14 games this season.
• Chelsea Mack has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last seven games.
• Vanessa Miller leads the team with six stolen bases – her single season high.
In the game, the Cards outhit the Falcons 11-5 with Riley Frizell going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Chelsea Mack finishing the game with a 3-for-3, two run performance at the plate to help lead Louisville offensively. Alyssa Zabala (6-1) earned the win after holding the Falcons scoreless on one hit and two strikeouts in two innings of relief.
After Bowling Green State (1-2) used a pair of hits and an error to jump to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cardinals (12-2) countered with three runs of their own in the home half of the second. Jac Hasty led off with a walk, took second on Ally Alexander's sacrifice bunt and moved to third when Mack reached on a bunt single. After a walk issued to Bailee Richardson loaded the bases, Frizell followed with a two-out, two-run single to pull the Cards within a run. Vanessa Miller's base hit plated Richardson to even the score at 3-3.
The game remained deadlocked through the next three innings before Louisville erupted for an eight-spot in the sixth. Mack got the offense started with her third hit of the game and Goff was hit by a pitch for the second time in the contest. Richardson's infield hit loaded the bases for Frizell's two-run single which put the Cards on top 5-3 for their first lead of the game. Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, this time for Gabby Holloway who walked to plate Richardson. Pickle Winkler followed with an RBI single, extending the lead to 7-3.
With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Venturelli entered the game as a pinch hitter and smashed a 1-2 count over the fence in left centerfield for her first career home run - and grand slam - sending the Cardinals to an 11-3 walk-off win via the eight-run rule.
Alyvia Roth (0-1) took the loss for Bowling Green after giving up five earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of relief. Peyton Deleis paced the Falcons offensively going 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Louisville will return to action with their home opener on February 27 when the Cardinals play host to Western Kentucky at 5 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
NOTES:
• At 12-2 on the season, the Cardinals are off to their best start since 2013 when the team also had a 12-2 record through its first 14 games.
• Louisville is hitting .313 as a team with five players carrying an average of .300 or better.
• Riley Frizell has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last 12 games and in 13 of Louisville's 14 games this season.
• Chelsea Mack has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last seven games.
• Vanessa Miller leads the team with six stolen bases – her single season high.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zabala, Alyssa (6-1)
L: ROTH, Alyvia (0-1)
Batting:
2B: WILLIAMSON, Reagan 1
RBI: WILLIAMSON, Reagan 1 ; DOLEJS, Peyton 2
SH: DOLEJS, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: STEFFES, Peyton 1 ; DAVIS, Delaney 1 ; COLE, Kaylee 1
CS: STEFFES, Peyton 1
HBP: CARVER, Lexi 1 ; REID, Wynnie 1
Batting:
2B: Hasty, Jac 1
HR: Venturelli, Ava 1
RBI: Frizell, Riley 4 ; Miller, Vanessa 1 ; Holloway, Gabby 1 ; Winkler, Madison "Pickle" 1 ; Venturelli, Ava 4
SH: Alexander, Ally 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goff, Kiley 1 ; Richardson, Bailee 2 ; Forsythe, Mia 1 ; Miller, Vanessa 1 ; Holloway, Gabby 1 ; Winkler, Madison "Pickle" 1 ; Hasty, Jac 1 ; Venturelli, Ava 1 ; Mack, Chelsea 2
SB: Mack, Chelsea 1
HBP: Goff, Kiley 2 ; Miller, Vanessa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
4
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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