Cards Set to Open ACC Play Against No. 20/15 Virginia Tech

Series Information
Date: March 8-10, 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.
Twitter Updates: @LouisvilleSB
Coverage: Live Scoring
Friday, 6 p.m. – ACCNX Watch Link
Saturday 1 p.m. – ACCNX Watch Link
Sunday 4:30 p.m. – ACCN Watch Link

The University of Louisville softball team will continue its eight-day home stand this weekend when No. 20/15 Virginia Tech visits Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium for the Cardinals' Atlantic Coast Conference opening series. The Cards (16-5, 0-0) and the Hokies (15-3-1, 3-0) will meet Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a Saturday 1 p.m. matchup -both games will air on ACCNX. The teams will wrap up the weekend with an ACC Network televised game slated for Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

QUICK HITS
• Virginia Tech marks the second straight top-25 opponent to visit Ulmer Stadium following Wednesday's 5-3 win over No. 21/24 Arizona.
• Louisville is hitting .304 as a team with five players carrying an average of .300 or better.
• The Cards have outscored opponents 120--57 with 13 home runs on the season.
• UofL 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 (10-1) carries a 1.65 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. Her 10 victories stand tied for first in the NCAA. The sophomore has earned the last six wins for Louisville.
• Five players are hitting at a .300 clip or better with Riley Frizell's .368 average leading the way. The first baseman has also produced a team-best 22 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with five homers.
• Frizell has reached safely via a hit or walk in the last 19 games and in 20 of Louisville's 21 games.
• Kiley Goff has been hit by a pitch 13 times in Louisville's 21 games this season and stands second in the nation in the hit by pitch per game category (0.62).
• Paige Geraghty is on a seven-game hitting streak and leads the team with seven multi-hit games
• Vanessa Miller leads the team with a career-best 10 stolen bases and five multi-RBI games. The right fielder is tied for the team lead with five homers and stands second with 18 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 145 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
Virginia Tech
Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 16-8 - the Hokies have won the last five meetings.
Last Meeting: May 11, 2023 -The University of Louisville put together a late-inning rally with five runs in the sixth, but came up short in a 10-8 loss to Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship at Notre Dame's Melissa Cook Stadium.
Scouting the Hokies Virginia Tech enters the series with a 15-3-1 overall record and a 3-0 mark in ACC play following last weekend's three-game sweep of Notre Dame.
• Currently on a five-game win streak, the Hokies were slated to play a midweek game at Eastern Kentucky, but the contest was canceled due to inclement weather.
• Addy Greene leads the team with a .472 batting average and 25 hits while Michelle Chatfield following at a .391 clip with a team-best eight homers.
• Emma Lemley (3-1) and Lyndsey Grein (4-1) have split the bulk of the pitching duties with 36.1 and 35.1 innings apiece. Lemley, a two-time All-ACC selection carries a 2.89 ERA with 40 strikeouts while Grein holds a 2.97 ERA and a pair of saves with 51 Ks on the season.
• Pete D'Amour is in his sixth season at the helm and has guided the Hokies to four straight NCAA appearances.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will wrap up their eight-game home stand with the Cardinal Classic slated for March 14-17 at Ulmer Stadium. Along with Louisville, the five-team tournament field also features Dartmouth, Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota.

LAST UP
The Cards are coming off of a 5-3 upset of No. 21/24 Arizona Wednesday evening at Ulmer Stadium.
• Louisville built a 5-1 lead and withstood a late-inning rally attempt by the Wildcats.
• Alyssa Zabala tossed a complete game improve to 10-1 on the season, scattering six hits and striking out five. Vanessa Miller connected on her fifth home run of the season, Bailee Richardson added another homer and Riley Frizell doubled to extend her on-base streak to 19 games.
• Louisville improves to 2-0 at Ulmer Stadium this season.

Fans can follow Louisville Softball on X, Facebook and Instagram at @LouisvilleSB.

University of Louisville Athletics

Cards Set to Open ACC Play Against No. 20/15 Virginia Tech

Players Mentioned

Riley Frizell

Paige Geraghty

Kiley Goff

Vanessa Miller

Bailee Richardson

Alyssa Zabala

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