Friday, May 15
Lincoln, Neb.
4:00 PM
University of Louisville
44-13
1
vs
5
Grand Canyon University
53-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCU | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Louisville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Cards Fall Short Against Grand Canyon in Lincoln Regional Opener
May 15, 2026 | Softball
Madison Pickens connects on her 11th home run of the season in Louisville's 5-1 loss.
LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 24/25-ranked University of Louisville softball team fell 5-1 to No. 25/21 Grand Canyon in the opening game of the Lincoln Regional Friday evening at Bowlin Stadium.
The Cardinals (44-13) will return to action Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ET) when they face the loser Friday's matchup between top-ranked Nebraska and South Dakota.
Madison Pickens connected on her 11th home run of the season to lead the Cardinals at the plate while Bri Despines earned a pair of walks to extend her reached base streak to 32 games. She has now reached safely in 56 of Louisville's 57 contests. Alyssa Zabala (14-5) took the loss, surrendering three runs, one earned, on five hits with a strikeout in 2.2 innings.
Grand Canyon (53-8) took an early lead using an error and three hits to score a pair of runs in the top of the first and added another run behind Sydney McCray's two-out solo homer in the second to take a 3-0 lead.
The Cards moved a runner into scoring position with two outs in the first and third innings. Louisville threatened again in the fifth. Katie Thatcher was hit by a pitch and Chelsea Mack's bunt single put two on with one out, but Grand Canyon starter Oakley Vickers delivered a pair of strikeouts to keep Louisville at bay.
GCU added to its lead with Emily Gonzalez's leadoff home run in the sixth.
Louisville broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Pickens took the first pitch of her at bat over the right field fence to make the score 4-1.
The Lopes countered with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh before the Cardinals turned their second double play of the game to move to the home half of the inning. Riley Janda drew a two-out walk, but Louisville was unable to capitalize, stranding a total of seven runners in the 5-1 loss.
Vickers (16-4) picked up the win, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out nine in a complete game effort. Sydney McCray led Grand Canyon at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs and a stolen base.
The Cardinals (44-13) will return to action Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ET) when they face the loser Friday's matchup between top-ranked Nebraska and South Dakota.
Madison Pickens connected on her 11th home run of the season to lead the Cardinals at the plate while Bri Despines earned a pair of walks to extend her reached base streak to 32 games. She has now reached safely in 56 of Louisville's 57 contests. Alyssa Zabala (14-5) took the loss, surrendering three runs, one earned, on five hits with a strikeout in 2.2 innings.
Grand Canyon (53-8) took an early lead using an error and three hits to score a pair of runs in the top of the first and added another run behind Sydney McCray's two-out solo homer in the second to take a 3-0 lead.
The Cards moved a runner into scoring position with two outs in the first and third innings. Louisville threatened again in the fifth. Katie Thatcher was hit by a pitch and Chelsea Mack's bunt single put two on with one out, but Grand Canyon starter Oakley Vickers delivered a pair of strikeouts to keep Louisville at bay.
GCU added to its lead with Emily Gonzalez's leadoff home run in the sixth.
Louisville broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Pickens took the first pitch of her at bat over the right field fence to make the score 4-1.
The Lopes countered with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh before the Cardinals turned their second double play of the game to move to the home half of the inning. Riley Janda drew a two-out walk, but Louisville was unable to capitalize, stranding a total of seven runners in the 5-1 loss.
Vickers (16-4) picked up the win, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out nine in a complete game effort. Sydney McCray led Grand Canyon at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs and a stolen base.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Oakley Vickers (16-4)
L: Zabala, Alyssa (14-5)
Batting:
2B: Emily Gonzalez 1 ; Addison Shifflett 1 ; Tinley Lucas 1
HR: Sydney McCray 1 ; Emily Gonzalez 1
RBI: Sydney McCray 1 ; Jada Cooper 1 ; Trinity Martin 1 ; Emily Gonzalez 1 ; Addison Shifflett 1
SF: Jada Cooper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sydney McCray 3 ; Raegan Holtorf 1 ; Emily Gonzalez 1
SB: Sydney McCray 1
Batting:
HR: Pickens, Madison 1
RBI: Pickens, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pickens, Madison 1
HBP: Thatcher, Katie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF/UT
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
RHP
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