Opening Weekend Softball Round Up

Over the weekend the Cardinals competed in Clearwater, Florida in the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic. Here is how they fared.

Friday Game #1 vs #21 Ole Miss:

The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Ole Miss in the second inning with redshirt sophomore Taylor Roby connecting on her first homerun of the season. The Rebels responded back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The third inning was led off by a double by sophomore Charley Butler and freshman Jenna Servi then singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Coach Holly Aprile called a double steal and it paid off when the Cards took a 2-1 advantage. Then redshirt junior Carmyn Greenwood connected with a single that scored Servi and pushed the lead to 3-1. Caitlin Ferguson connected on a solo shot in the 6^th inning to put the Cards up 4-1. Taylor Roby pitched a solid 6 innings, striking out 3 and only allowing 5 hits. This win gave the Cards an early season resume win.

Cards: 4              Ole Miss: 2

Season Record: 1-0

Cards defeat No. 21 Ole Miss to open the 2020 season! pic.twitter.com/0hCxhb3cEF

— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) February 7, 2020

Friday Game #2 vs Baylor:

In game two on Friday, the Cards jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Baylor Bears, but this wouldn’t hold for long. The Bears responded with a homerun in the bottom of the 2^nd inning and added 3 more runs in the 3^rd inning. The Cards answered back with an RBI single in the 4^th by Caitlin Ferguson to tie the game at 4-4. The Cards bats couldn’t get going the rest of the game. Baylor responded with 3 runs in the bottom of 6^th and this would be the difference for the Cards against the Bears. Chardonnay Harris, a junior transfer from Auburn picked up the loss pitching 5 innings giving up all 7 runs on 7 hits. This was her first loss on the season.

Cards: 4              Baylor: 7

Season Record: 1-1

Game two didn't go our way, gotta bounce back tomorrow#GoCards pic.twitter.com/OljNQCpIcm

— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) February 7, 2020

Saturday Game #1 vs Texas State:

In game one on Saturday, Texas State’s bats came out red hot against Chardonnay Harris. Texas State was up 5-0 after 6 innings. Caitlin Ferguson responded in the bottom of the 6^th launching a solo home run which was her second of the season to cut Texas States’ lead to 4. In the top of 7^th inning, Texas State scored 2 more to make 7-1. The Cards scored 2 in the bottom of the 7^th with a triple by Celene Funke and Caitlin Ferguson’s single to drive Funke in. This loss moved Chardonnay Harris to 0-2 on the season. She struck out 4 in 2 innings of work.

Cards: 3              Texas State: 7

Season Record: 1-2

Cards fought back but it didn't go our way. Back at it at 3pm today to take on Mississippi State#GoCards pic.twitter.com/1sRxLw6JrF

— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) February 8, 2020

Saturday Game #2 vs Mississippi State:

The Cards jumped out to an early lead against the Bulldogs with a 1-0 lead. Mississippi State responded with 2 runs in the 4^th and 6^th to take a 2-1 lead. Taylor Roby came to plate in the bottom of 7^th down 2-1 with the bases loaded and drew a walk to tie the score at 2-2. The Cards couldn’t get anything else in that inning. In the top of the 8^th , the Bulldogs put a runner on 2^nd with the new NCAA rule. The Bulldogs were able to push across that runner and won 3-2. Taylor Roby pitched the complete game going a full 8 innings and only allowing 2 runs and striking out 6.

Cards: 2              Mississippi State: 3

Season Record: 1-3

After 8 innings of play, not the result we wanted. Back at it tomorrow#GoCards pic.twitter.com/h0V733cC6e

— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) February 8, 2020

Sunday Game #1 vs Missouri:

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the 3^rd inning when Taylor Roby connected on her second homerun of the season. This was the Cardinals only run and the Tigers offense just couldn’t be stopped. Chardonnay Harris gave up 3 runs on six hits with only 2 2/3 innings pitched. The Cardinals also had Jenna Servi connect on a double that contributed to the team’s 7 hits.

Cards: 1              Missouri: 5

Season Record: 1-4

Cards fall short against Missouri. Regroup and back at it next week! pic.twitter.com/4nKpkZ4yGX

— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) February 9, 2020

Up Next: The Cards travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to face off in Big 10/ACC Challenge against Wisconsin and Michigan.