Cards Close Out Florida Trip at USF
February 18, 2025 | Softball
Louisville will play USF on Wednesday before competing in USF Tournament
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team will close out its early season road trip with a midweek game at USF on Feb. 19 before competing in the USF Tournament Feb. 21-23. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Over the course of the USF Tournament, the Cards will play four opponents in five games, facing Kent State, Wisconsin (twice), Michigan, and USF.
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First pitch of Wednesday's meeting with USF is slated for 6:35 p.m. On Friday, UofL will play Kent State at 9 a.m. before playing Wisconsin at 1:30 p.m. Louisville will return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. to face Michigan and will take on USF at 1:35 p.m. later that day.
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The Cards will wrap up the trip with their second matchup against Wisconsin, slated for 9 a.m. on Sunday.
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About Louisville
UofL starts the week with a 7-3 record following a 4-1 outing at the Joan Joyce Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. Louisville's four wins came against Villanova, Minnesota (twice), and No. 25 Florida Atlantic. The Cards shut out tournament host and their first ranked opponent of the year, FAU in a 4-0 win.
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The Opponents
USF
Series Record: UofL leads series 27-19
Last Meeting: March 2, 2024 - USF won 4-3 in Tampa
Scouting the Bulls: USF sits at 10-2 on the season after starting its campaign with a 3-2 record at the USF-Rawlings Invitational and a 5-0 showing at the Fonseca Memorial Tournament. The Bulls also picked up two wins in a midweek double-header against FGCU. South Florida's only losses so far have been at the hands of RV/No. 22 Michigan and No. 3/2 Florida.
Kent State
Series Record: UofL leads series 6-1
Last Meeting: Feb. 28, 2016 - Louisville won 6-3 at home
Scouting the Golden Flashes: Kent State is 3-6 in the early part of the season with wins over East Tennessee State, UMass, and Townson. KSU coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Battle at the Beach.
Wisconsin
Series Record: UofL leads series 6-4
Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2023 - Louisville won 2-1 at a neutral site
Scouting the Badgers: Wisconsin is 6-4 in 2025, taking wins over Kansas, Georgia State (twice), Missouri State, and Seton Hall (twice). The Badgers finished 2-3 last weekend at the FGCU Invitational, with both wins coming against Seton Hall.
Michigan
Series Record: Michigan leads series 21-6
Last Meeting: March 16, 2024 - Louisville won 12-4 in 5 innings at home
Scouting the Wolverines: The Wolverines are 5-4 to start 2025, taking wins over USF, Illinois State, Longwood, Western Carolina, and Georgia State. Michigan finished the Red & Black Showcase at 3-1, with its only loss coming against No. 10 Georgia.
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Over the course of the USF Tournament, the Cards will play four opponents in five games, facing Kent State, Wisconsin (twice), Michigan, and USF.
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First pitch of Wednesday's meeting with USF is slated for 6:35 p.m. On Friday, UofL will play Kent State at 9 a.m. before playing Wisconsin at 1:30 p.m. Louisville will return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. to face Michigan and will take on USF at 1:35 p.m. later that day.
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The Cards will wrap up the trip with their second matchup against Wisconsin, slated for 9 a.m. on Sunday.
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About Louisville
UofL starts the week with a 7-3 record following a 4-1 outing at the Joan Joyce Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. Louisville's four wins came against Villanova, Minnesota (twice), and No. 25 Florida Atlantic. The Cards shut out tournament host and their first ranked opponent of the year, FAU in a 4-0 win.
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The Opponents
USF
Series Record: UofL leads series 27-19
Last Meeting: March 2, 2024 - USF won 4-3 in Tampa
Scouting the Bulls: USF sits at 10-2 on the season after starting its campaign with a 3-2 record at the USF-Rawlings Invitational and a 5-0 showing at the Fonseca Memorial Tournament. The Bulls also picked up two wins in a midweek double-header against FGCU. South Florida's only losses so far have been at the hands of RV/No. 22 Michigan and No. 3/2 Florida.
- The Bulls finished 2024 with a 34-22 overall record, going 24-13 at home. USF was picked to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference 2025 Preseason Poll.
- Junior infielder and two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year Kathy Garcia-Soto was big for USF in 2024, finishing the season with .987 fielding percentage and .248 batting average.
- Ken Eriksen is in his 28th season leading the Bulls program with a career record of 1,127-585-1.
Kent State
Series Record: UofL leads series 6-1
Last Meeting: Feb. 28, 2016 - Louisville won 6-3 at home
Scouting the Golden Flashes: Kent State is 3-6 in the early part of the season with wins over East Tennessee State, UMass, and Townson. KSU coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Battle at the Beach.
- The Golden Flashes were 26-23 in 2024 with an 11-15 record in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State was picked ninth in the 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Senior utility player Savannah Wing led the team in doubles in 2024 with 18 and .310 on the season. Wing also tallied two triples and 38 RBIs with a 0.927 OPS through 145 at bats.
- Head coach Jessica O'Donnell is in her second year with KSU, posting a 29-29 record with the club so far.
Wisconsin
Series Record: UofL leads series 6-4
Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2023 - Louisville won 2-1 at a neutral site
Scouting the Badgers: Wisconsin is 6-4 in 2025, taking wins over Kansas, Georgia State (twice), Missouri State, and Seton Hall (twice). The Badgers finished 2-3 last weekend at the FGCU Invitational, with both wins coming against Seton Hall.
- In 2024, Wisconsin went 21-31 overall and posted an 8-15 recording in the Big 10.
- Sophomore catcher Hilary Blomberg, senior catcher Emmy Wells, and graduate pitcher Molly Jacobson were each named as a Big Ten Player to Watch for 2025. Blomberg was also ranked at No. 90 in Softball America's Preseason Top 100 players. In 2024, Blomberg set a program record with her .365 batting average and Wells hit 14 home runs for the second most in program history.
- Yvette Healy is in her 15th season with the Badgers and holds a 417-293-1 record in her tenure.
Michigan
Series Record: Michigan leads series 21-6
Last Meeting: March 16, 2024 - Louisville won 12-4 in 5 innings at home
Scouting the Wolverines: The Wolverines are 5-4 to start 2025, taking wins over USF, Illinois State, Longwood, Western Carolina, and Georgia State. Michigan finished the Red & Black Showcase at 3-1, with its only loss coming against No. 10 Georgia.
- The Wolverines ended 2024 with a 43-18 record and won its 11th Big Ten Tournament title. Michigan scored a bid to the NCAA Tournament with their conference title but ultimately fell in the Stillwater Regional Final against fifth-seeded Oklahoma State. The Wolverines were ranked No. 20 in the D1Softball Preseason Top 25.
- Senior pitcher Lauren Derkowski was ranked as the No. 16 pitcher in the country by D1Softball, following an All-Big Ten First Team junior season that was highlighted by a 2.29 ERA, 222 strikeouts, and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. Junior infielder Maddie Erikson checked in at No. 5 on the D1Softball third base rankings. Erikson joined Derkowski on the All-Big Ten First Team after posting a team-high .352 batting average through her 61 starts.
- Leading the Michigan team is third year coach, Bonnie Tholl, who holds a 74-47 record with the Wolverines.
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