Cards Dominate in ACC Opener Against Notre Dame

Friday, March 7

LOUISVILLE, KY

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

Notre Dame

March 07, 2025 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Louisville defeated the Fighting Irish 9-2 to start conference play

By: Sarah Ennis

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team secured their first ACC win of the season Friday night at Ulmer Stadium against Notre Dame (10-11), winning 9-2. Easton Lotus, Chelsea Mack, Taylor Monroe and Madison Pickens all led the Cards with multi-hit nights. UofL moves to 15-6 on the year with Sam Booe picking up the win, giving her a 4-1 record.

The Cardinals got the bats going early in the first inning as Mack singled to the left side and later swiped second to put herself in scoring position. Pickens delivered a two-run shot to right field to give UofL an early 2-0 lead. The home run marked the first of Pickens' career.

Maddi Grant forced a lead-off walk to begin the bottom half of the second. Riley Janda came into run for Grant, making her impact felt immediately on the base path as she took second to give Katie Thatcher an RBI opportunity. Thatcher came through with a hard liner to the ride side, extending the lead to 3-1.

The Irish claimed its first run of the game due to a solo shot from Cortes to begin the third inning of play. Notre Dame kept the momentum going in the fourth, using a lead-off double to put a runner in scoring position. Winchell delivered an RBI single to left to close the gap, bringing the score to 3-2.

Louisville used a big fifth inning to add to its lead, highlighted by a triple ripped in the left field gap by Lotus to score Monroe who reached base after a bunt single. Mack earned her second hit and stolen base of the game after a bunt down the line. Char Lorenz reached on a hit by pitch to give the Cards two runners on. Bri Despines singled to short to score Lotus, stretching the lead to 5-2 in the inning. An error by the Irish scored Mack and Lorenz to make the score 7-2.

UofL kept their foot on the gas in the sixth, plating two runs on three hits to extend its lead to 9-2. Monroe kicked off the inning with a double through the left side for her second hit on the night. Ally Alexander reached on a walk, followed by a single to center by Lotus to set up Pickens with the bases loaded. Pickens picked up her third and fourth RBI of the game with a single to right.

In the final frame, Booe struck out three of five batters to secure the victory for Louisville, 9-2. Micaela Kastor for Notre Dame was handed the loss, dropping her to a 6-2 record on the season.

Louisville is back at Ulmer Stadium on Saturday, March 8th, in the second game of the series against Notre Dame at 1 p.m. (ET). The ACC matchup will be broadcast on ACCNX.