By Brendan Holba
(The views of Brendan Holba do not necessarily reflect those of Cardinal Sports Zone)
For the first time this season, the Cardinals were able to wake up in their beds and play in front of the home faithful for an entire week. Aside from a midweek clash against Western Kentucky last week, every game thus far has been on the road. This group hasn’t seemed to mind the road though, putting together a 14-5 record away from Ulmer Stadium to this point in the season. As soon as the calendar for this season was finalized this week was one that could be immediately pointed to as a season-defining week. Not only was this week the opening weekend of league play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but it also provided an opportunity for coach Holly Aprile’s group to prove themselves against some of the nation’s best; both Arizona and Virginia Tech are ranked in the top 25. The Cardinals have begun to catch the eye of the college softball world and a winning record, maybe even a .500 record in four straight ranked games might have had the Cards ranked today. But alas, the high after taking down a perennial powerhouse and Oklahoma City mainstay on Tuesday night was wiped away by three straight losses.
Louisville 5 – Arizona 3
Louisville played small ball and took advantage of a couple of Wildcat miscues in the second inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. After a walk and an error, Paige Geraghty punched an RBI single through the left side. Later in the inning, Gabby Holloway was able to push across another run on a fielder’s choice. In the third inning, Vanessa Miller sent a towering lead-off homer over the fence in right chasing the Wildcat starter, Miranda Stoddard, from the game. Arizona was able to add a run in the top of the fourth, but the Cardinals answered back in the bottom of the fifth with another long ball, this time off the bat of Bailee Richardson. The Wildcats made things interesting in the top of the sixth, scoring twice, but Alyssa Zabala remained in control and limited the damage. Zabala picked up her tenth win of the season after going the distance in this one, striking out five and allowing six hits.
Virginia Tech 11 – Louisville 1 (5 innings)
The weather delayed the start of this weekend’s action by a day and despite the final score, this one was pretty close through the first four innings. Ultimately though, the Cardinals were doomed by a rough fifth inning. The Hokies broke through in the second and scored three runs, but a bases-loaded walk to Riley Frizell in the bottom of the third got the Cards on the board. However, in the fifth inning, the Virginia Tech bats got hot. They used seven hits, and two walks to plate eight runs and seal the run rule.
Virginia Tech 5 – Louisville 2 (10 innings)
While the opener only went five innings, the second game Saturday needed an extra three innings. Virginia Tech scored in the second and fifth innings with solo home runs. Louisville was finally able to break through in the sixth on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Vanessa Miller. The tie would remain for the next four innings until Cori McMillan sent a two-out, three-run homerun over the left field fence in the top of the tenth.
Virginia Tech 4 – Louisville 3
A late rally was cut short in the series finale and dropped the Cardinals to 0-3 to start ACC play. The Hokies scored in the first with a solo home run, added two more in the fifth spraying singles into the outfield, and capped off their scoring with another run in the top of the sixth. Louisville was able to answer in the sixth when Frizell knocked in Daisy Hess, who had doubled to start the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals added two more to pull within one when Hess connected for a triple. But Hess was stranded at third when the game ended with a ground out to first base.
The Week Ahead
Louisville will continue the homestand with a midweek match-up against 12-12 South Dakota before hosting two Big Ten foes. The University of Illinois will bookend a Saturday rematch against the Michigan Wolverines. Louisville beat Michigan 2-0 in the second weekend of the season in Boca Raton, Florida at the Joan Joyce Classic.
Despite a 1-3 week overall and beginning conference play on a losing streak, Louisville proved they can hang with some of the best teams in college softball. As the weather continues to heat up, I expect Louisville to continue to roll!
