Cards Drop Series Finale Against No. 22/21 Clemson

Sunday, April 28

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

26-23, 0

Clemson

33-16, 0

Clemson

Louisville

April 28, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Louisville plates four runs in the sixth inning, but falls 11-5 in its final home game of the season

By: Sarah Ennis

LOUISVILLE, KY. – The University of Louisville softball team lost 11-5 to No. 22/21 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference series finale Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium.

The Cardinals (25-23, 6-14 ACC) will return to action next weekend when they hit the road for a three-game ACC series at Boston College to close out the regular season.

After the Tigers took an early lead, the Cardinals battled back, but a late-inning rally was not enough to overcome the deficit. Bailee Richardson led the way for the Cardinals at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double and scoring a run while Riley Frizell and Kiley Goff each had a pair of hits and a run. Alyssa Zabala (18-13) took the loss, going 2.2 innings and giving up five runs, three earned, on five hits with three strikeouts.

Clemson (33-16, 15-9 ACC) got the scoring started in the top of the second, plating one run after a single through the right side by Aby Vieira. The Cardinals' defense quickly responded, throwing Vieira out at second on a stolen base attempt to end the inning. The Tigers managed to add to their lead in the top of the third, scoring four runs on a trio of hits and an error by the Louisville defense to bring the score to 5-0.

The Cardinals recorded their first run of the game in the bottom half of the third after an error allowed Kiley Goff to reach and take second. She later came around to score off a single through the left side by Daisy Hess, making it a 5-1 game.

After a quiet fourth inning, Clemson threatened to extend the lead in the top half of the fifth after a pair of singles gave the Tigers two runners on with no outs. The Louisville defense stifled Clemson's momentum as Hess threw out McKenzie Clark at home plate to keep the Tigers scoreless in the inning.

The Tigers broke the game open during the top half of the sixth, scoring six unearned runs on three hits.

UofL cut into the lead in the bottom half of the sixth, capitalizing on four hits and an error to plate four runs. The inning started with singles by Riley Frizell and Richardson to give the Cardinals two runners on with no outs. Mia Forsythe was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Katie Thatcher as she delivered with a single to first to score Frizell. Maddi Grant's RBI groundout sent Richardson home and an error on the play saw Forsythe and Thatcher cross the plate to cut the deficit to 11-5.

Regan Spencer (9-3) earned the win, allowing five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. Lindsey Garcia went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Clemson at the plate.