Cards Set to Open 2024 Season at FGCU Kickoff Classic

Weekend Information
Dates: Feb. 9-11, 2024
Location: Ft. Myers, Fla.
Venue: FGCU Softball Complex
Twitter Updates: @LouisvilleSB

FGCU Kickoff Classic Schedule All Times Eastern
Friday, February 9
10 a.m. - Louisville vs. LIU – Live Scoring
2:30 p.m. - Louisville vs. Georgetown – Live Scoring
Saturday, February 10
5:00 p.m. - Louisville vs. Georgetown - – Live Scoring
7:30 p.m. - Louisville vs. FGCU – Live Scoring | ESPN+ Watch Link
Sunday, Feb. 11
12:30 p.m. Louisville vs. FGCU – Live Scoring | ESPN+ Watch Link

The University of Louisville softball team will open the 2024 campaign this weekend when the Cardinals travel to Ft. Myers, Fla. for the FGCU Kickoff Classic. The tournament begins on Friday at 10 a.m. when Louisville takes on LIU. Opening day action will continue with a 2:30 p.m. contest against Georgetown. The Cards and Hoyas will meet again on Saturday at 5 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. matchup with host Florida Gulf Coast. The weekend finale features another showdown between the Cardinals and Eagles on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

QUICK HITS
• The Cardinals return 11 letterwinners from last year's squad including all-ACC selections Daisy Hess, Easton Lotus and Alyssa Zabala. Louisville also welcomes 11 newcomers including six freshmen and five transfers to the 2024 roster.
• UofL was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 ACC preseason coaches' poll.
• In 2023, the Cardinals posted a 36-20 overall record and a 16-7 ACC mark in the 2023 season - the 16 ACC wins were also tied for the most in since the Cardinals joined the league in 2015. UofL also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament (Knoxville Regional), marking the 15th NCAA appearance in program history.
•The Cards are 15-9 in season-opening games and have won their first game of the season in 10 of the last 12 years.
• The 2024 campaign marks the 25th season in program history. The program started in 2000 and boasts 837 wins, 15 NCAA tournament appearances and five conference championships.

PLAYER NOTES
• Daisy Hess is the Cardinals' leading returner statistically after posting a .335 batting average, 32 runs, 31 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 2023.
• Lotus ended the 2023 season a 13-game hitting streak dating back to the April 21 win at Virginia. She also reached base safely in the final 16 games dating back to the April 16 win over Oakland.
• Louisville also returns three pitchers including Zabala, who led the team in wins (14), strikeouts (94) and innings pitched (121.0). Junior Sam Booe also stands among the returning leaders in the circle with a 2.74 ERA last season.

HEAD COACH HOLLY APRILE ON THE UPCOMING SEASON
"I think we have a really special group of people this year. We've had a really solid fall and a really good start to our spring. Going into my sixth year here, with my staff and with the team I am coaching, I am just really excited about it, and I feel like we're in a really good place. We're looking to repeat the success of last year, and even more so."

THE APRILE ERA
• Holly Aprile is in her sixth season as UofL's head coach. During her time at Louisville, which includes the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, the Cardinals have amassed 129 wins and earned a pair of NCAA regional appearances with the 2023 Knoxville Regional and the 2019 NCAA Evanston Regional finals. She was named the Leadership Playbook 2022-23 Collegiate Coach of the Year.
• Prior to her arrival at Louisville, Aprile, the 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the ACC tournament.

CARDS AGAINST THE FIELD
LIU
Series Record: First Meeting
Scouting the Sharks: LIU is coming off of an impressive 2023 season, posting a 31-26 overall record, a 14-7 mark in Northeast Conference play and won the league tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
• The Sharks enter the 2024 campaign as the preseason NEC favorite. LIU returns NFCA All-Region selection Lindsey Cowans in the circle as well as All-NEC infielders Alexia Castro, Mari Narvaiz and Gabby Padilla.
• Head coach Roy Kortmann is in his 30th season at the helm. During his time at LIU, the Sharks have earned Northeast Conference championships and appearances in the NCAA tournament.

GEORGETOWN
Series Record: Louisville leads 8-1
Last Meeting: April 28, 2013 - UL won 10-1 at Ulmer Stadium to wrap up a three-game BIG EAST series.
NOTE: The bulk of the series dates (2009-13) back to when both teams were members of the BIG EAST Conference.
Scouting the Hoyas: Georgetown is coming off of a 16-32 season, finishing seventh in the BIG EAST Conference with a 9-15 mark against league opponents.
• The Hoyas were picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll with pitchers Julia Parker and Kayla Dunn set to lead the way in the circle.
• Pat Conlan has served as the Hoyas' head coach since the program joined the Division I ranks in 2006, serving as the program's first and only head coach.

FLORIDA GULF COAST
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Eagles: FGCU was picked to finish second in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' poll following a 32-26 overall record and 13-11 mark in conference play in 2023.
• Graduate senior Neely Peterson named unanimous ASUN Preseason Catcher of the Year after leading the team in home runs (6) in 2023 while posting a .980 fielding percentage and throwing out 12 would-be base stealers.
• The Eagles also return third team all-conference selection RHP Angelina Bonilla.
• David Deiros is entering his 22nd season at the helm and is the only head coach in program history. He has guided the Eagles to 17 seasons with a winning record, nine campaigns with 35+ wins. After five seasons at the NCAA Division II level, the Eagles transitioned to Division I in 2008.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will continue their trek through the Sunshine State with a midweek game at FIU on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Booe

Daisy Hess

Easton Lotus

Alyssa Zabala

University of Louisville Athletics