Friday, May 1
Raleigh, NC
6:00 PM
University of Louisville
42-10, 17-5
5
at
1
NC State University
26-24, 6-15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| NC State | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Photo by: Mason Seidt | Louisville Athletics
Louisville Secures 5-1 Series Opening Win Over NC State
May 01, 2026 | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Alyssa Zabala tossed her third complete game of the season as the No. 24-ranked University of Louisville softball team (42-10, 17-5 ACC) defeated N.C. State (26-24, 6-15 ACC) by a score of 5-1 on Friday night at Dail Softball Stadium.
Zabala (13-4) went the full seven innings, allowing just one run in addition to giving up four hits and striking out three. Bri Despines went 2-for-3 with two hits and two RBIs, including her eighth home run of the year, and drew one walk. Madison Pickens added two more RBIs to her yearly total on one hit, while Despines, Mack and Riley Janda plated the Cards' five runs.
Mack led off the game with a single through the left side before an error allowed Despines to reach base and Mack to move over to third. Camryn Lookadoo walked to load the bases, and Pickens brought in Mack and Despines with a single up the middle for an early 2-0 lead.
UofL added on with back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Despines and Lookadoo to double the score in the top of the second. NC State got on the board with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning for its only run of the day.
Despines launched a first pitch home run to right field to lead off the fourth inning, and Zabala followed it up with a 1-2-3 home half of the frame. The pitchers continued to battle, and the Wolfpack looked to threaten in the fifth but could not complete the comeback as Zabala retired seven straight batters to close out the last two innings.
The series will continue on Saturday, May 2, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET at Dail Stadium.
Zabala (13-4) went the full seven innings, allowing just one run in addition to giving up four hits and striking out three. Bri Despines went 2-for-3 with two hits and two RBIs, including her eighth home run of the year, and drew one walk. Madison Pickens added two more RBIs to her yearly total on one hit, while Despines, Mack and Riley Janda plated the Cards' five runs.
Mack led off the game with a single through the left side before an error allowed Despines to reach base and Mack to move over to third. Camryn Lookadoo walked to load the bases, and Pickens brought in Mack and Despines with a single up the middle for an early 2-0 lead.
UofL added on with back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Despines and Lookadoo to double the score in the top of the second. NC State got on the board with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning for its only run of the day.
Despines launched a first pitch home run to right field to lead off the fourth inning, and Zabala followed it up with a 1-2-3 home half of the frame. The pitchers continued to battle, and the Wolfpack looked to threaten in the fifth but could not complete the comeback as Zabala retired seven straight batters to close out the last two innings.
The series will continue on Saturday, May 2, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET at Dail Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zabala, Alyssa (13-4)
L: Talley, Morgen (13-9)
Batting:
HR: Despines, Bri 1
RBI: Despines, Bri 2 ; Pickens, Madison 2 ; Lookadoo, Camryn 1
SH: Mack, Chelsea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Janda, Riley 1 ; Mack, Chelsea 2 ; Despines, Bri 2
SB: Mack, Chelsea 1 ; Despines, Bri 2 ; O'Dell, Addy 1
Batting:
HR: Talley, Morgen 1
RBI: Talley, Morgen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Talley, Morgen 1
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF/UT
/ Softball
OF/UT
/ Softball
RHP
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