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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team lost 9-1 and 7-6 at North Carolina in an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field.
The Cardinals (25-21, 6-12 ACC) will return to Ulmer Stadium for their final home weekend as No. 21/19 Clemson visits Ulmer Stadium for a three-game ACC series.
North Carolina 9 – Louisville 1
In Saturday’s opening game, North Carolina (30-15, 10-11) used three hits to jump to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Tar Heels added an unearned run in the third to make the score 4-0.
The Cards got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Riley Frizell powered a two-out solo shot over the left field fence for her team-best 13th homer of the season.
Carolina used three hits and three walks to put up a five-spot in the sixth inning, bringing the final score to 9-1.
Alyssa Zabala (18-12) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Frizell and Vanessa Miller each registered a hit for Louisville.
Talia Hannappel (2-0) got the win, surrendering two hits and striking out three in a complete game effort. Autumn Owen paced the Tar Heels, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
North Carolina 7 – Louisville 6
In the nightcap, Louisville used four home runs to take a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning, but North Carolina plated seven unanswered runs in the final two innings to stage a walk-off win in the series finale.
Maddi Grant got the Cardinals on the scoreboard when she led off the second by sending her third home run of the season over the right field fence.
The Tar Heels threatened to score in the home half of the third when Carsyn Snead reached on a bunt single, took second on an error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out in the inning, centerfielder Chelsea Mack tracked down a fly ball by Skyler Brooks and fired a strike to catcher Kiley Goff who tagged Snead out to end the inning.
Louisville’s offense erupted in the fifth inning with the Cardinals cranking out three home runs to put up a five spot. Mack got the frame started with a bunt single, Riley Frizell walked and was lifted for pinch-runner Pickle Winkler to set the table for Vanessa Miller who connected on her 10th home run of the season. Bailee Richardson followed with her sixth long ball of the year. One out later, Katie Thatcher added to the home run total with her third career shot to make the score 6-0.
North Carolina capitalized on three hits and an error to plate two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Tar Heels kept the offense going in the seventh, using five hits, including back-to-back two-out home runs by Abby Settlemyre and Autumn Owen to even the score at 6-6. Sanaa Thompson followed with a hit and scored on Destiny Middleton’s single for the 7-6 win.
Brooke Gray (3-5) took the loss, allowing one earned run on two hits. Miller paced the Cardinals at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Richardson and Grant also had a pair of hits with a home run in the game.
Janelle Wilson (2-1) picked up the win, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and giving up two hits. Settlemyre, Middleton and Snead had three hits apiece.
NOTES:
• At least one Louisville player has registered a home run in the last six games
• Riley Frizell paces the Cardinals with 13 home runs and moves into a tie for eighth on Louisville’s all-time single-season list.
• In game two, Louisville turned its 18th double play of the season, standing second the ACC in double plays and ninth on the school’s single season list. The record is 25 set in 2019.
