Cardinals Register Impressive Offensive Performance in Six-Inning Victory
The University of Louisville softball team opened its final home weekend series with a dominant 10-2 win over Boston College in a six-inning game on Friday evening at Ulmer Stadium. With their seventh-straight victory, the Cardinals improved to 33-14 on the season and 14-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play.
Hannah File excelled at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Taylor Roby registered her NCAA-leading 20th homer of the season. Alyssa Zabala (14-6) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out three in five innings of work. Sam Booe closed out the game, retiring all three batters she faced in the sixth inning.
Boston College (21-26, 3-16 ACC) initially took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a pair of hits and an RBI groundout. However, the Cardinals responded in the bottom of the first when Easton Lotus walked and scored on a double by Daisy Hess.
The Eagles briefly regained the lead with Hannah Slike’s solo home run in the third inning, but Roby evened the score by sending a shot over the centerfield fence. Sarah Gordon’s walk and Hess’ second hit of the game paved the way for File’s RBI single, giving Louisville a 3-2 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Cardinals added six more runs, including File’s 10th home run of the season. Otis, Lotus, and Gordon contributed RBIs, extending Louisville’s lead to 9-2. The Cardinals sealed the win in the sixth inning as Ally Alexander’s walk-off RBI single sent pinch-runner Elana Ornelas home for the 10-2 final score.
Abby Dunning (10-10) took the loss for Boston College, surrendering four earned runs on eight hits and striking out one in 2.2 innings.
The teams will continue their series at 2 p.m. on Saturday in a game televised on the ACC Network.
Notes:
- Louisville extends its win streak to seven games, matching a season high.
- In 47 games, the Cardinals have produced 10 shutouts and 10 wins via the eight-run rule.
- Roby extended her school-record career home run total to 60 and her school-record single-season tally to 20.
- Roby is on a seven-game hitting streak and has reached base safely via a hit or walk in the last 12 games.
