Cards Defeat Michigan and Fall to USF on Saturday

Saturday, February 22

Tampa, FL

9:00 AM

University of Louisville

9-4

Michigan

7-5

Louisville

Michigan

February 22, 2025 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Louisville got the 8-inning victory over Michigan, 5-3, but fell to USF, 6-1, later on

By: Kennedy Knisley

TAMPA, Fl. – The University of Louisville softball team went 1-1 on the second day of the USF Tournament, defeating Michigan, 5-3 (8 innings) and falling to USF, 6-1. The Cardinals move to 9-5 on the season and play one more game on their road swing.

The game against Michigan opened with Louisville's offensive surge in the first inning. Easton Lotus tripled down the right-field line, and Chelsea Mack singled to left, eventually scoring alongside Lotus on Jordan Williams' two-run single. Michigan responded in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Putz that brought Sieler home, but Louisville maintained the lead, 2-1.

In the second, Bri Despines walked, and Madison Pickens advanced via a hit by pitch. A crucial homer by Despines in the fifth extended Louisville's lead to 3-2. Michigan tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth with an unearned run on a fielding error by the first baseman.

In the eighth, a clutch two-run double from Lotus put Louisville back on top, with Williams and Monroe scoring. Despite Michigan's efforts, including Conway's single in the eighth, Louisville held onto their 5-3 lead to seal the win.

Alyssa Zabala started the game for Louisville, tossing four solid innings. She allowed only one earned run on four hits, striking out three batters while walking a pair. Sam Booe took over in the fifth and delivered a crucial inning of work. She kept Michigan off the scoreboard, allowing no hits and striking out one while walking one.

Lindsey Mullen entered in the seventh and faced a critical situation with Michigan looking to rally. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Despite a pair of base runners, Mullen got the necessary outs, including a strikeout to end the inning and preserve the 5-3 lead, earning her first win of the season.

Louisville fell to USF 6-1 in a tough game this afternoon. In the bottom of the second, USF exploded for five runs, with Foreman's homer and a series of hits giving them a commanding lead. The Cards responded in the top of the third with a run but couldn't capitalize on loading the bases. Zabala came in to pitch and struck out three batters in the bottom of the third, but USF tacked on another unearned run in the fifth. Despite a few scattered hits, including a single from Lotus in the fifth, Louisville's offense couldn't get anything going. Louisville's pitching staff, including Brooke Gray, Ryann Sanders, Zabala, and Mullen, did well to limit further damage but couldn't overcome the early deficit.

The Cards will play one more in Tampa as they face Wisconsin tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET.