Cardinals walk off game one and edge Wildcats in rain-shortened game two
Game One
Fall Ball opened today for both Louisville and Kentucky, as the in-state rivals met at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville for a doubleheader. After an hour rain delay, play finally got underway.
Louisville went with Alyssa Zabala in the circle and she set the tone early, retiring the side in order, including a strikeout to Maddy Anson. Kentucky countered with Sarah Haendiges, who matched her with a clean first frame of her own.
Zabala worked around a couple of base runners in the second, finishing the inning with a strikeout to Ella Emert. In the bottom half, Louisville struck first when Katie Thatcher roped a double, advancing to third on an error, to bring in Riley Janda. Kentucky had some solid contact off Zabala today, but Louisville’s defense made the plays behind her.
Freshman Hailey Nutter entered for Kentucky in the third. Easton Lotus reached on a hard hit ball to short, but was later called out for leaving early on a steal attempt. Chelsea Mack followed with a single, but Louisville couldn’t push anything across.
Kentucky’s offense stayed pretty quiet through the fourth, but pitching was solid. Nutter struck out Bri Despines to open the bottom half and worked out of a jam after Madison Pickens and Taylor Monroe reached.
Louisville went to Ohio transfer Anna Wise in the fifth, and Kentucky senior Karissa Hamilton wasted no time, blasting a solo home run to left center to tie the game. Wise responded with a pair of quick outs to keep it 1-1.
Kentucky cycled to freshman Abby Hammond in the bottom half. Jordan Williams drew a walk and advanced to third, but Louisville couldn’t bring her home.
In the sixth, Allie Blum singled and stole second, then moved to third on a base hit from Madyson Clark. Peyton Plotts delivered with a two-RBI single to give Kentucky a 3-1 lead. They loaded the bases later in the inning but stranded them.
Louisville answered back with a solo shot from Madison Pickens in the home half to cut it to 3-2. Back-to-back walks put two more on, and a Kentucky fielding error flipped the lead back to the Cards, 4-3.
Junior transfer Madi Reeves entered to attempt a close in the seventh, but Kentucky’s freshman Alexa Riddel tied it with a leadoff home run. Reeves regrouped and kept it there.
Louisville threatened in the bottom half with back-to-back bunt singles from Lotus and Mack, but Hammond escaped to send the game to extras.
Kentucky went back to Hailey Nutter in the eighth and she struck out two straight after a runner reached third, showing poise to keep things level. I was impressed with Nutter today. She showed calmness and trust in her stuff as a young freshman. I am interested to see how she develops as time goes on.
In the ninth, Plotts opened on second and Hamilton ripped an RBI double to put Kentucky ahead 5-4. After Kentucky worked a couple of walks to load the bases, Maddy Anson scored an RBI-walk, giving the Wildcats a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom half.
Louisville wasn’t done. With two outs and two on in the bottom of the ninth, Bri Despines stepped up and crushed a three-run walk-off homer to center, giving the Cardinals a 7-6 win in game one.
Game Two
Kentucky came into game two and quickly loaded the bases against Louisville freshman Jayden Gohs from Goodrich, Michigan. Gohs didn’t flinch, striking out Alexa Riddel for the second out and catching McKenzie Oslanzi looking to escape the jam.
Carson Fall started in the circle for Kentucky, but Easton Lotus wasted no time, ripping a leadoff double in the bottom of the first. Lotus then came all the way around to score from second on a wild pitch to give Louisville the early 1-0 lead.
Kentucky put pressure on Louisville in the second as Reaghan Oney and Madyson Clark reached. With two outs, Allie Blum grounded into a fielder’s choice at second to strand both runners.
Louisville’s Riley Janda opened the bottom half with a single and Taylor Monroe added a bunt hit to put two on. Fall responded with a strikeout and worked her way out of trouble to keep Louisville from adding on.
In the third, Peyton Plotts showed her power again, sending a two-run shot out to push Kentucky in front 2-1. Gohs battled through the inning and added a pair of strikeouts. Louisville answered in the bottom half when Easton Lotus came across on a passed ball to tie things up 2-2. Madison Pickens, who reached on that passed ball after striking out, also stole second to keep the pressure on, but Fall and the Wildcats closed the door.
Both teams leaned on speed and small ball. That was one of the things I was impressed with today. There were several bunt singles and infield hits today. Both teams have the personnel to put pressure on opposing teams to field and make plays on time.
Louisville threatened big in the fifth with Chelsea Mack and Bri Despines reaching to put runners on second and third with no outs. Mack was cut down at third on a fielder’s choice, and Abby Hammond flashed her glove at third to snag a liner for the second out.
Monroe then came through with a clutch RBI double, scoring Despines to give Louisville a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Shortly after, lightning moved into the area and the game was called, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 win after five innings.
Final Thoughts
Today was a good start to fall play for both teams. Even though the Wildcats came up short in both, they have a talented team and Coach Lawson and her staff will have this team where it needs to be well before the Spring hits. They have both veteran presence and young talent. I can see this Kentucky team winning some big games this coming season.
Louisville is a scrappy bunch that will not go away. They showed that today, and it paid off. I am still interested to see how their pitching staff turns out as a whole. I was impressed by Alyssa Zabala in game one. From the looks of it, she looks like the strong leader in the circle. Bri Despines has clutch written all over her. Can the Cardinals challenge some teams in the ACC in 2026? I believe so.
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