Cards Power Past Pitt for ACC Series Win

Sunday, March 31

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

22-14, 3-6

Pittsburgh

9-24, 1-11

Louisville

Pittsburgh

March 31, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Cards belt out a season-high four home runs, including two by Bailee Richardson, in 9-0 win

By: Lori Harmon

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Louisville softball team belted out a season-high four home runs and registered its seventh shutout of the season in a 9-0 win over Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon at Vartabedian Field. With the win, the Cardinals (22-14, 3-6 ACC) clinch the Atlantic Coast Conference series. Pitt drops to 9-24 (1-11).

Louisville will step away from league play on Tuesday when the Cards travel to Northern Kentucky for a midweek contest.

Bailee Richardson tallied a pair of home runs and drove in five while Vanessa Miller went 3-for-4 with a home run and Riley Frizell delivered a three-run shot to help lead the Cardinals at the plate. Alyssa Zabala (15-8) earned the win, allowing five hits with one strikeout in six innings of work. Holloway combined on the shutout giving up one hit in the seventh inning.

The game featured a pitchers' duel through the first four innings with Zabala giving scattering two hits and Pitt's Danni Farris limiting the Cardinals to one hit before Louisville broke through with a seven-spot in the fifth courtesy of home runs by Riley Frizell, Vanessa Miller and Bailee Richardson.

Pickle Winkle and Daisy Hess earned back-to-back one-out walks to set the table for Frizell who crushed a three-run shot over the fence in center field for her team-best ninth homer. Miller followed by taking an 0-2 pitch over the fence for her seventh round tripper of the season to make the score 4-0. Walks to Gabby Holloway and Ally Alexander put two on for Richardson's home run which extended the lead to 7-0.

Richardson added a two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 9-0. Alexander led off the frame with a single to bring up Richardson who powered her second homer of the game over the wall in right center field.

The Panthers' best chance to score in the home half of the second when a pair of walks and a hit loaded the bases with two out, but Alyssa Zabala got the next batter to foul out to Bailee Richardson at third base to end the threat.

Danni Farris (1-3) took the loss after giving up one earned run on two hits in 5.1 innings of work. Kat Rodriguez and Cami Compson has two hits apiece to pace the Panther offensively.

NOTES:

All of Louisville's runs were scored via the home run in Sunday's game
The series win is Louisville's first of the season
Alyssa Zabala leads the ACC with 15 victories and has picked Louisville's last five wins in the circle
Richardson's five RBIs and two homers are season high for her
Daisy Hess snapped her eight-game hitting streak, but the shortstop has reached safely via a hit or walk in 15 straight games
Ally Alexander is currently on a six-game hitting streak and has reached base safely via a hit or walk in 10 straight games.
Riley Frizell leads the team with a career-high nine home runs and 39 RBIs.
Vanessa Miller stands second on the team with seven homers and 25 RBIs – both are career highs.