Louisville Drops Game 1 at California

Thursday, April 2

Berkeley, CA

5:00 PM

University of Louisville

30-8, 6-4

University of California

13-25, 3-10

Louisville

Cal

The Cards huddle up during the game against Bellarmine at Ulmer Stadium on February 17, 2026.

Photo by: Paige Kuwata | Louisville Athletics

April 02, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

By: Kennedy Knisley

SARATOGA, Calif. – The University of Louisville softball team took a narrow loss to California in game one of the series on Thursday by a 7-5 margin. The Cardinals move to 30-8 (6-4 ACC) on the season.

Riley Janda and Jordan Williams led the way for the Cards, each totaling two hits and two runs on the day. Chelsea Mack secured her 21st multiple-hit game of the season with two of her own.

In the circle, Alyssa Zabala took the loss after allowing four runs in 2.0 innings. Anna Wise worked 3.1 innings in relief, surrendering two runs, while Brooke Gray closed out the final 0.2 innings.

Cal struck first in the second, scoring four runs on two hits to take a 4-0 lead.

Louisville responded in the third when Janda led off the inning with a home run to left center, trimming the deficit to 4-1. The Cardinals continued to apply pressure as Mack followed with a single and stolen base, and Louisville loaded the bases with one out, but was unable to push across additional runs.

The Golden Bears added to their lead in the bottom half of the third, using a groundout to bring in a run and extend the advantage to 5-1.

Williams opened the fourth inning with a solo home run, and Louisville continued to chip away later in the frame. Janda doubled and eventually scored on an RBI single from Easton Lotus, cutting the deficit to 5-3.

Cal answered again in the fourth as Madison Rey delivered an RBI double to score Jackson and push the lead to 6-3.

Louisville plated another run in the fifth after Madison Pickens doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Williams. Williams advanced on the play and came around to score on a fielding error, making it a 6-5 game.

In the sixth, Cal added another to make the final margin 7-5.

Louisville will look to even the series against Cal tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET.