Cards Walk Off Bellarmine in Five Innings in Home Opener

Tuesday, February 17

LOUISVILLE, KY

6:30 PM

University of Louisville

7-3

Bellarmine University

1-9

Bellarmine

Louisville

Photo by: Paige Kuwata | Louisville Athletics

Cards Walk Off Bellarmine in Five Innings in Home Opener

February 17, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Jack Pilbean

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team run-ruled Bellarmine 10-2 in five innings in its home opener at Ulmer Stadium Tuesday night.

Louisville's Jayden Gohs earned her first win of the season, while Ryann Sanders closed the game out strong, allowing just one hit and one run through two innings pitched.

The Cards found the scoreboard early, courtesy of a Bri Despines two-run single up the middle to score Chelsea Mack and Easton Lotus.

After a home run by the Knights in the top of the second, Lotus answered with a two-RBI triple to regain momentum for the Cards. A single to right field off the bat of Despines brought the score to 6-1 after two innings of play.

Some small ball by the Cards in the fourth helped extend the lead to 9-1, heading into the fifth inning. A Bellarmine home run in the top of the fifth cut the lead to 9-2, sending Louisville to the plate needing just one run to end it early.

After a leadoff single to left center and a stolen base by Jordan Williams, Mack knocked a single to give the Cards a 10-2 win after five innings.

Louisville had two batters go perfect from the plate this evening with Mack hitting 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Despines hitting 2-for-2 with four RBIs. The Cards had two double plays defensively, with Riley Janda and Camryn Lookadoo connecting to end the first, and Taylor Monroe throwing to Lookadoo to conclude the third.

Louisville will head back out on the road this weekend to compete in the Hampton Inn Gulf Coast Classic to face Buffalo, FGCU, Wisconsin and UConn on Feb. 20-22 in Fort Myers, Fla.