Cards Play Host to No. 19/21 Arizona Tuesday

Wednesday, March 6

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

5:30 PM

University of Louisville

Arizona

March 04, 2024 | Softball

Cards will open an eight-game home stand on Tuesday when No. 19/21 Arizona visits Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

By: Lori Harmon

Game Information
Date: March 5, 2024
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Venue: Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium
Admission: Free
Gates Open: One (1) hour prior to first pitch
Clear Bag Policy: A Clear Bag Policy remains in place at all UofL athletics facilities. Fans may bring one clear bag, either a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag, or a 12 x 6 x 12 inches clear tote bag.
Parking: Fans are encouraged to park in the Floyd Street Parking Garage for a $5 fee.
Social Media Updates: @LouisvilleSB
Coverage: Live Scoring | ACCNX Watch Link

The University of Louisville softball team will return to Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium for a midweek matchup against No. 19/21 Arizona Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The contest kicks off an eight-game home stand which also includes Louisville's ACC opening series against Virginia Tech (March 8-10) and the Cardinal Classic (March 14-17).

QUICK HITS
• Louisville is hitting .305 as a team with five players carrying an average of .300 or better.
• The Cards have outscored opponents 115-54 with 13 home runs on the season.
• Louisville has produced six shutouts this season, ranking second in the ACC and 13 in the national standings.
• UofL was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 ACC preseason coaches' poll.
• The 2024 campaign marks the 25th season in program history. The program started in 2000 and boasts 15 NCAA tournament appearances and five conference championships.

PLAYER NOTES
• Alyssa Zabala (9-1) carries a 1.47 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 52.1 innings. Her nine victories in the circle lead the ACC and stand tied for second in the nation. The sophomore has earned the last five wins for Louisville.
• Five players are hitting at a .300 clip or better with Riley Frizell's .369 average leading the way. The first baseman has also produced a team-best five home runs and 22 RBIs this season.
• Frizell has reached safely via a hit or walk in the last 18 games and in 19 of Louisville's 20 games.
• Kiley Goff has been hit by a pitch 13 times in Louisville's 20 games this season and stands second in the nation in the hit by pitch per game category (0.65).
• Paige Geraghty is on a six-game hitting streak and leads the team with seven multi-hit games
• Vanessa Miller leads the team with a career-best 10 stolen bases, five multi-RBI games and stands second on the team with four home runs and 17 RBIs.

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 142 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
Arizona
Series Record: Arizona leads 4-0
Last Meeting: February 20, 2022 -The Cards fell 5-3 to then-No. 9/9 Arizona on day one of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 2 Thursday in Cathedral City, Calif.
Scouting the Wildcats: Arizona enters Tuesday's game with a 17-3-1 overall record following a 1-2-1 showing at Alabama's Crimson Classic last weekend. The Wildcats dropped a pair of one-run games to No. 10 Alabama, defeated Northern Iowa and were tied with South Alabama 1-1 in the 11th inning when Sunday's contest was called due to travel time constraints.
• As a team, Arizona carries a hefty .352 batting average with Carlie Scupin belting out a team-high seven home runs with 29 RBIs.
• Aissa Silva (9-1) carries a 1.18 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 47.1 innings of work.
• Olympic silver medalist Caitlyn Lowe is in her third season at the helm of her alma mater where she was a four-time All-American.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will open ACC play this weekend with a three-game against Virginia Tech starting Friday at 6 p.m.

LAST UP
The Cardinals went 2-3 in last weekend's USF Tournament. After opening the tournament with losses to Villanova and South Florida, the Cardinals bounced back on Saturday with a 7-6, eight-inning victory over Georgia Southern before falling to the Bulls again. Louisville wrapped up the weekend with win over Central Michigan.
• Paige Geraghty helped lead the Cardinals to three wins on the week, leading the way with a .421 bating average including a double, two runs. an RBI and was a perfect 2-for-2 in stolen bases. The senior left fielder had at least one hit in all six games including a pair of hits in the win against WKU and the 4-3 loss to USF.
• Alyssa Zabala earned all three of the Cardinals' wins on the week. The sophomore posted a 1.19 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work. In Louisville's home opener against Western Kentucky, she surrendered one unearned run on six hits and fanned six in 6.1 innings. She also got the win against Georgia Southern, working a solid 5.1 innings of relief. On Sunday, she tossed three innings against Central Michigan and only allowed one runner – via a walk – while facing nine batters and striking out two in three innings of relief to get the win.