Cards Split Doubleheader at Pitt

Friday, March 29

Pittsburgh, Pa.

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

21-13, 2-5

Pittsburgh

8-23, 0-10

Louisville

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Chad Harmon

March 29, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cards take the first game 3-2, fall 9-4 in game two

By: Lori Harmon

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Louisville softball team split an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader at Pittsburgh, winning the first game 3-2 and falling 9-4 in the nightcap Friday at Vartabedian Field. The Cardinals (21-14, 2-6 ACC) and the Panthers (9-23, 1-10) will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Louisville 3 – Pitt 2
In the series opener, Daisy Hess went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Ally Alexander went 2-for-2 and scored a run to help the Cardinals overcome a 2-0 deficit. Alyssa Zabala picked up her 14th win of the season after allowing two runs, one earned and scattered four hits while striking out two in a complete game effort.

Pitt took an early lead with an unearned run in the first inning. Kylie Griggs was hit by a pitch, stole second and crossed the plate on an error. The Panthers added another run when Cami Compson led off the bottom of the second with a solo shot over the right field wall.

The Cardinals answered in the top of the fourth when Vanessa Miller was hit by a pitch and back-to-back singles by Bailee Richardson and Ally Alexander loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Katie Thatcher who laced a two-run single to left field to even the score at 2-2.

Louisville tacked on another run in the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Alexander was hit by a pitch to get the frame started and moved to third when an error allowed Kylie Goff to reach on her sacrifice bunt attempt. After Goff swiped second to put two runners in scoring position, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hess put the Cards on top for the first time in the game.

Danni Farris (1-2) took the loss after giving up on unearned run in 2.1 innings of relief. Compson led the Panthers with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Pitt 9- Louisville 4
In the second half of Friday's doubleheader, the Panthers again jumped on the scoreboard first, this time with four runs in the second inning, capitalizing on four hits – including home runs by KK Esparza and Kylie Griggs. The Panthers used an RBI single by Esparza in the third inning to extend the lead to 5-0.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard behind Vanessa Miller's three-run homer in the top of the fifth. Hess got the offense going with a leadoff double and Alexander followed with a hit to place runners on the corners. One out later, Miller stepped up to the plate and launched a shot over the right field wall for her sixth home run of the season to make the score 5-3.

The Panthers countered with another four-spot in the fifth inning, using a three-run homer by Compson and an RBI single by Jordan George to take a 9-3 lead.

Gabby Holloway led off the top of the sixth with her fourth home run of the season to make it a 9-4 game.

Louisville had a chance to narrow the gap in the seventh when Miller tallied her third hit of the game with a leadoff double. Holloway was hit by a pitch and Kiley Goff earned a walk to load the bases with one out, but Pitt reliever Olivia Stefanoni retired the final to batters to end the game.

Zabala (14-8) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on five hits in two innings. Miller paced the Cards offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run – a triple shy of the cycle – and drove in three runs.

Kyra Pittman (5-7) picked up the win after giving up three earned runs on five hits. Compson went 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Panthers at the plate.