Cards Fall Short at USF

Friday, March 1

Tampa, Fla.

3:30 PM

University of Louisville

13-4

USF

13-5

Louisville

USF Softball

Photo by: Chad Harmon

March 01, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Louisville suffers its second straight loss at USF Tournament

By: Lori Harmon

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team lost 3-1 to host South Florida Friday evening on the opening day of the USF Softball Tournament. The Cardinals (13-4) will continue tournament play on Saturday when they take on Georgia Southern at 1:30 p.m. followed by a rematch with USF at 4 p.m.

The Bulls (13-5) got on the scoreboard early, capitalizing on three hits and an error to put up a three-spot in the bottom of the first.

Louisville countered with a run in the top of the third. Kiley Goff was hit by a pitch, took second on Ally Alexander's sacrifice bunt and came around to score on Chelsea Mack's RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.

The Bulls had a scoring opportunity in the fifth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but reliever Alyssa Zabala retired the next batter on a pop up to Ally Alexander at second base to get out of the jam.

In the top of the seventh, the Cardinals had a chance to push at least one run across, using two hits and a hit batter to load the bases. Katie Thatcher got the offense started with a leadoff double and moved to third on Paige Geraghty's infield single. Gabby Holloway was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Mack reached on a fielder's choice that saw Thatcher out at the plate and a groundout ended the game, stranding all three runners.

Sam Booe (1-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on five hits and striking out two in three innings. Mack finished the game with a hit and an RBI. Hess, Thatcher and Geraghty each had a hit for the Cards.

Belle Sardja (5-3) picked up the win, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out five in six innings of work.

NOTES:
- Riley Frizell has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last 15 games and 16 of Louisville's 17 games this season
- Daisy Hess extended her hitting streak to seven games
- Friday marked the first time this season that Louisville has suffered back-to-back losses
- Vanessa Miller had two stolen bases on the day and now leads the team with a career-high nine this season
- Kiley Goff was hit by a pitch in each of Louisville's games Friday. She has been hit by a pitch 12 times this season and leads the NCAA in that category.