The University of Louisville softball team opened their 2023 season with a bang, finishing the NFCA Leadoff Classic with an impressive 4-1 record and three consecutive shutouts. On the final day of the tournament, the Cardinals defeated Howard University 8-0 in five innings and resumed their halted game against RV/23 Missouri to prevail 4-0.
The first game of the day saw the Cardinals facing off against Howard University. Louisville wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs in the second inning. Sophomore Korbe Otis drew a leadoff walk and then stole second, before freshman Sarah Gordon hit an RBI single. Elana Ornelas then singled, and Ally Alexander was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Easton Lotus, who earned a walk to bring home Gordon.
Louisville’s offense continued to be productive in the third inning, scoring four more runs. Two walks and two hits, including Ornelas’ two-run homer, allowed the Cardinals to plate four runs in the inning. Roby walked to lead off the inning and was lifted for pinch runner Mia Forsythe. Otis followed with a walk, and both runners advanced on Gordon’s sacrifice bunt. Junior Vanessa Miller’s RBI hit sent Forsythe home and Otis crossed the plate on a double steal attempt. Ornelas then hit her first career home run over the right-field fence to make the score 6-0.
In the fifth inning, Miller was hit by a pitch and Ornelas connected on her third hit of the game. Alexander followed with a double to plate Miller, and Paige Geraghty’s RBI single sent Ornelas home for the 8-0 final.
Louisville’s defense was also in top form, limiting Howard’s scoring opportunities. Howard’s best chance to score came in the third inning when Sydni Jones reached on an error and Lealani Ricks followed with a walk to put a runner in scoring position with one out. However, Roby and the Louisville defense retired the next two batters to preserve the shutout.
Roby and Holloway combined for the one-hit shutout, with Roby earning the win after not allowing a hit while striking out two in three innings. Amelia Weber took the loss for Howard, giving up four earned runs on three hits in two innings. Sidney Fletcher delivered Howard’s lone hit of the game.
In their second game of the day, the Cardinals resumed their halted game against RV/23 Missouri. The game resumed in the top of the fourth inning, with the Cardinals up 2-0 courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles by Daisy Hess and Taylor Roby.
Missouri’s Julia Crenshaw led off with a hit, but the Cardinal defense came up strong with a double play by second baseman Easton Lotus, shortstop Daisy Hess, and Ornelas at first base to end the top of the fourth.
Louisville’s offense continued to be productive, with Ornelas doubling and scoring on a hit by Alexander to push Louisville’s lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. The fifth inning brought another Louisville run, with Otis hitting an inside-the-park home run to make the score 4-0.
After surrendering a hit in the top of the fourth, Zabala retired the next eight batters until Crenshaw connected on her second hit of the game to lead off the seventh. However, the Tigers would get no closer as the Cardinals’ defense held up for the 4-0 victory.
Freshman Alyssa Zabala earned her first career complete game shutout, scattering three hits and striking out six. Otis went 2-for-2 with one run, and Roby was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
