Cardinals Set to Host NKU for Midweek Contest

Tuesday, March 3

LOUISVILLE, KY

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

Northern Kentucky University

Camryn Lookadoo runs out for intros before the game against Stanford at Ulmer Stadium on March 1st, 2026.

Photo by: Mason Seidt | Louisville Athletics

March 02, 2026 | Softball

Louisville Game Notes

By: Kennedy Knisley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville softball team (14-4, 2-1 ACC) hosts Northern Kentucky (7-5, 0-0 Horizon League) for a Tuesday midweek contest at 6 p.m. ET on ACCNX at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville earned a series victory over No. 13 Stanford this past weekend, taking game one 8-3, dropping game two 10-8, but posting a comeback with a 9-8 walk-off win in the decisive third game. It marked the first time since 2019 that the Cardinals have won a series over a ranked opponent.

Bri Despines had a great weekend, posting a .571 batting average with four hits (one triple, one home run), five RBIs, and a 1.286 slugging percentage. Anna Wise and Alyssa Zabala tallied one win apiece, allowing just five earned runs between the two of them and striking out six combined batters.

QUICK HITS

Chelsea Mack leads the Cardinals with a .483 batting average, tallying 28 hits in 58 at-bats, 17 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and 6 RBIs.
Bri Despines is second with a .469 average, posting 23 hits, 14 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 23 RBIs, with a .714 slugging percentage.
Madison Pickens is third on the team with a .426 average, collecting 23 hits, 18 runs, 5 doubles, 3 triples, and 20 RBIs.
Jordan Williams continues to contribute with a .383 batting average, adding four doubles and three triples as part of her 18 hits.
Camryn Lookadoo is hitting .356 with 16 hits, including a team-high 5 doubles.
Louisville's team batting average stands at .348, with 119 runs scored and a .502 slugging percentage compared to opponents' .360.
Through 18 games, five Cardinals have double-digit RBIs and six have recorded at least 15 hits.
Senior Alyssa Zabala leads the Louisville pitching staff with a 2.05 ERA and four wins in 30.2 innings pitched, giving up just nine earned runs and striking out 20 so far.

SCOUTING THE NORSE

Series Record: Louisville leads 6-0 (W6 streak)
At Louisville: Louisville leads 4-0
At NKU: Louisville leads 1-0
Last Meeting: March 18, 2025 – Louisville won 15-4 in 6 innings at NKU
Scouting the Norse: Northern Kentucky has gone 7-5 to start its 2026 season and will open its Horizon League play on March 20. NKU recently went 3-1 at the Bellarmine Softball Classic two weekends ago, sweeping host Bellarmine and splitting two games with Western Illinois.
Graduate pitcher Alicia Flores picked up Horizon League pitcher of the week honors for her performance against the Leathernecks and the Knights. Flores tossed 11.0 innings of work in Louisville, including a complete game shutout of WIU, and posted a 1.27 ERA over the weekend.
Freshman pitcher Makaree Chapman took home league pitcher of the week honors on Feb. 9 following her first career start and win for the Norse. On opening weekend, Chapman pitched to a 0.60 ERA after allowing just one earned run through 11.2 innings in the circle.
The Norse offense is led by Kenzie Gulley and Mack Brow, who are each hitting .385 and .372 respectively. Brow also leads the team with nine runs scored and 16 hits through her 12 games.
Morgan Gerak is in her second season leading Northern Kentucky and has amassed a 29-32 career record with the club.