Cards Drop Series Finale to No. 18 Florida State

Sunday, April 7

LOUISVILLE,Ky.

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

23-16, 0

Florida State

28-10, 0

Florida State

Louisville

April 07, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Late-inning rally attempt falls short in 4-3 loss to No. 18 Florida State

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team fell 4-3 to No. 18 Florida State in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (23-16, 4-8 ACC) will close out their four-game home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they play host to in-state rival Kentucky in an ACC Network televised game.

The Cardinals held the lead twice in Sunday's contest, but errors proved to be costly as Florida State (28-10, 9-3 ACC) capitalized on the miscues and registered six hits to claim the series.

Louisville jumped on the scoreboard right away when Daisy Hess was hit by a pitch and came around to score on an RBI single by Bailee Richardson to put the Cards on top 1-0.

The Seminoles answered in the fourth inning, using a hit, a walk and an error to put up two unearned runs and take a 2-1 lead.

The Cards got the runs back in the fifth when Paige Geraghty registered a leadoff infield hit and Maddi Grant followed with a walk and Ally Alexander entered the game to pinch run. Chelsea Mack's sacrifice bunt moved the runners and a walk to Kiley Goff loaded the bases for Hess whose ground out plated Geraghty to even the score. Riley Frizell followed with an RBI hit to put Louisville back on top 3-2.

The lead was short-lived as the Noles plated two more unearned runs in the sixth. Jahni Kerr and Torres started the frame with back-to-back hits and a pair of Cardinal miscues send both players home and Florida State regained the lead.

Louisville attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh when Grant and Katie Thatcher earned back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt by Goff moved the tying run to third and the go-ahead run into scoring position, but a ground out kept the final score at 4-3.

Alyssa Zabala (16-9) took the loss, allowing four unearned runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. Frizell, Richardson and Geraghty each tallied a hit.

Ashtyn Danley (8-3) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on two hits and striking out three in four innings. Makenna Reid earned the save, retiring two batters in the bottom of the seventh. Kerr and Jaysoni Beachum paced the Seminole offensively with two hits each.