(Photo By: Chad Harmon)
By Brendan Holba
(The views of Brendan Holba do not necessarily reflect those of Cardinal Sports Zone)
The Louisville Cardinals’ recent journey to South Florida veered off the anticipated path. Following a series of victories in three non-conference round robins, highlighted by a notable win against Michigan, the Cardinals encountered challenges in Tampa, Florida. Despite having ample opportunities in each game, they struggled to capitalize when it mattered most. Only a late rally against Georgia Southern prevented the weekend from being entirely forgettable.
Louisville 4, Western Kentucky 1
Finally, the Cardinals were able to play in front of the home crowd after three weeks on the road. Tuesday, at Ulmer Stadium the Cardinals kicked things off with a win against state rival Western Kentucky, led by strong performances from Riley Frizell and Alyssa Zabala. Frizell set the tone early, driving in Daisy Hess for the first run, following Hess’s leadoff walk. Freshman Katie Thatcher notched her first collegiate home run with a two-run big fly in the second inning. Ally Alexander scored another run in the second thanks to a Western Kentucky error. The Hilltoppers only managed to score in the sixth inning following a Louisville error.
Villanova 6, Louisville 4
In Tampa, the Cardinals faced their first setback of the weekend dropping a tough one to Villanova. Brooke Gray was saddled with her first collegiate loss after conceding a two-run home run in the first inning. Louisville responded in the bottom half of the first inning though when Frizell sent a shot into left center. In the fourth inning, Ava Venturelli tied the game with an RBI single. However, in the top of the fifth Villanova put three on the board with a solo home run and an RBI single. Paige Geraghty’s two-out RBI single in the fifth and Hess’ sac fly in the sixth pulled Louisville within one. In the seventh, the Wildcats added another run. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cards threatened, getting the winning run to the plate, but couldn’t deliver.
South Florida 3, Louisville 1
Friday was a tough day for the Cards. In the second game of the day, South Florida, the host team jumped on Louisville in the first with three hits and a Cardinal error to plate three runs. That would be the end of the scoring for the Bulls though. Offensively, Louisville scored in the third when Chelsea Mack sent an RBI single up the middle, but that was all they could muster.
Louisville 7, Georgia Southern 6 (Extra Innings)
It took an extra inning to get there, but the Cards broke through for their first win in Tampa with a heroic three-run eighth inning. Georgia Southern scored two in the third, but Louisville countered with three of their own led by Vanessa Miller’s three-run home run to deep left. In the fourth, the Eagles tied the game on a bases-loaded walk and took the lead in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh Frizell tied the game, knocking in Hess with an RBI triple. Once in extras and playing under the International Tie Breaker rule where each team starts with a runner at second base, Georgia Southern plated two. But the drama started when Gabby Holloway tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with a pinch-hit RBI single. A bunt single by Mack moved Kiley Goff to third before she scored the winning run on Hess’ groundball to the shortstop.
South Florida 4, Louisville 3
Early runs plagued the Cards again against South Florida in the nightcap on Saturday. For the second time in two days, the Bulls scored all the runs they would need in the first then held on with all they had. The Cardinals did lead in this one for half an inning though. Hess scored on Geraghty’s misplayed bunt to open the game but South Florida tallied five hits to go along with one walk in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead. In the second. Ally Alexander ripped an RBI double into the gap in right-center. In the third inning, a passed ball plated Thatcher. South Florida flirted with danger in the top of the seventh; Louisville had bases loaded and one out, but could not capitalize.
Louisville 7, Central Michigan 2
In the Sunday finale, the Cardinals used thirteen hits to score seven runs and ended their trip to Tampa on a high note. Deuces were wild in this one. In the second inning, Holloway doubled in Thatcher to score the first run of the game, and Hess followed with an RBI single. In the third, the Chippewas added two of their own with an RBI single. In the third, Chelsea Mack’s infield single scored Vanessa Miller. Two more Cardinal doubles from Frizell and Miller gave Louisville two more runs in the fourth, followed by two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Thatcher RBI to center and a Bailee Richardson sac fly.
Looking Ahead
The Cards will begin a tough eight-game home stand. #21 Arizona will be in town Tuesday for a midweek game followed by the first weekend of ACC play against #15 Virginia Tech. The schedule has been favorable to this point but the Cardinals have struggled with opponents whose records are over .500. The next four games are going to be a fantastic early test for a team that is off to their hottest start in a decade.
