Louisville Defeats Wisconsin, 5-1 in Final Day at USF

Sunday, February 23

Tampa, FL

9:00 AM

University of Louisville

10-5

Wisconsin

9-6

Wisconsin

Louisville

February 23, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

Alyssa Zabala got the win (5-1) and Sam Booe got her third career save in the Cards' 10th win of the season

By: Kennedy Knisley

TAMPA, Fl. – The University of Louisville softball team defeated Wisconsin, 5-1, in the final day of the USF Tournament. The Cardinals secured their 10^th win of the season, moving to 10-5.

Louisville came out strong in the first inning, capitalizing on early opportunities to take control of the game. After a quiet top half from Wisconsin, Louisville's offense ignited with a two-run homer from Bri Despines, quickly followed by a solo shot from Char Lorenz to put the Cards up 3-0.

Wisconsin struggled to find offensive momentum through the second, as Louisville extended their lead, adding two more runs to make it 5-0.

The third inning finally saw Wisconsin on the board. After a lead off single by Hubbard, a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. Bark's RBI double to center got the Badgers on the board, cutting the deficit to 5-1.

In the middle innings, both teams tightened up defensively. Wisconsin had limited base runners and struggled to make solid contact, while Louisville continued to put runners on but couldn't convert opportunities. Despite a three-hit fifth inning from the Cards, no runs were scored, keeping the score at 5-1 heading into the later innings.

The final two innings featured strong pitching and defensive execution, with neither team able to add to the scoreboard. Louisville managed a few base runners but couldn't capitalize, while Wisconsin had just one walk in the seventh before being shut down to end the game.

Alyssa Zabala took the circle with confidence, working efficiently through four innings. She limited Wisconsin to just three hits, allowing only one run while striking out three batters. Her only blemish came in the third inning, when she surrendered a double to Bark that plated Wisconsin's lone run.

With a four-run lead heading into the fifth, Louisville turned to Sam Booe, who was dominant in relief. She shut the door on Wisconsin's offense, pitching three hitless innings while striking out four. Even when Wisconsin managed to put a runner on via a walk, Booe stayed poised and secured the save.

The Cards return home for a 13-game stretch, including playing host to multiple teams in the Cardinal Classic. They will face Bellarmine in a mid-week match-up on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. before hosting Central Michigan, Longwood, and Northwestern in the upcoming weekend (Feb. 28 – March 1).