University of Louisville
39-10, 14-5
Syracuse University
18-21, 4-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Louisville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 0 |
Louisville Scores 13 Unanswered Runs to Beat Syracuse in Game One
April 24, 2026 | Softball
Bri Despines hit her second grand slam in the last five days to kick-start a 10-run inning for the Cards and finished the day with four RBIs and one walk. Ava Venturelli knocked the walk-off hit to score three runners. Easton Lotus, Madison Pickens, Jordan Williams and Riley Janda each swiped a bag on the day, with Lotus and Janda taking two, and each of them scoring at least one run. Louisville moves to 39-10 on the year and 14-5 in ACC play, while Syracuse falls to 18-21 with a 4-13 bid in conference games.
The Orange plated runs in the top of the first, third and fifth to get out to a 5-0 lead. SU pitcher Julianna Verni struck out the first Cardinal batter in the home half of the fifth, but Katie Thatcher and Lotus drew walks while Mack dropped in a bunt single to load the bases. Despines then knocked her grand slam to deep center field to quickly get Louisville within one run at 5-4.
Camryn Lookadoo was hit by a pitch and Pickens singled to get her into scoring position. Williams brought in Lookadoo with a single of her own to tie it up, before the pair of base runners completed the double steal to bring in Pickens and send Williams to second. Taylor Monroe laced a double down the left field line, and Venturelli followed suit as two more runners crossed home.
Addy O'Dell subbed in for Venturelli and moved to third on a passed ball. Janda walked to join her on the bases and then stole second. Chelsea Mack used a sacrifice fly to bring in O'Dell for the ninth run of the inning. Lotus dropped a bunt single in front of the circle and heads-up base running from Janda had her stealing home and Lotus stealing second and third. Louisville finished the inning with 10 runs on seven hits for its first lead of the game.
Syracuse had one runner on in the top of the sixth, but Monroe went into shallow center field to grab a pop up and end the inning. Lookadoo started the bottom frame by reaching on an error, and Pickens' bunt single forced another SU error to get both runners in scoring position. Williams walked to load the bases, and Venturelli singled into center field to send home Lookadoo and Pickens, while Williams came home on an error.
The series will continue tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on ACCNX.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gray, Brooke (12-1)
L: Knight, Madison (9-8)
Batting:
2B: Flores, Vanessa 1 ; Tulua, Kaimi 1
HR: Flores, Vanessa 1 ; Gaunt, Kendall 1
RBI: Flores, Vanessa 2 ; Gaunt, Kendall 2 ; Tulua, Kaimi 1
SF: Flores, Vanessa 1 ; Tulua, Kaimi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Flores, Vanessa 2 ; Gaunt, Kendall 1 ; Knight, Madison 1 ; Lantier, Gabby 1
SB: Fox, Lauren 1 ; Gaunt, Kendall 1
Batting:
2B: Venturelli, Ava 1 ; Monroe, Taylor 1 ; Pickens, Madison 1
HR: Despines, Bri 1
RBI: Williams, Jordan 1 ; Venturelli, Ava 3 ; Mack, Chelsea 1 ; Lotus, Easton 1 ; Monroe, Taylor 1 ; Despines, Bri 4
SF: Mack, Chelsea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Jordan 2 ; Janda, Riley 2 ; Mack, Chelsea 1 ; Lotus, Easton 1 ; Monroe, Taylor 1 ; Despines, Bri 1 ; Pickens, Madison 2 ; Lookadoo, Camryn 2 ; O'Dell, Addy 1
SB: Williams, Jordan 1 ; Janda, Riley 2 ; Lotus, Easton 2 ; Pickens, Madison 1
HBP: Lookadoo, Camryn 1
