By Hallie Conley
With the Cardinals’ opening day less than a month away, the University of Louisville softball team is hard at work preparing to face a tough ACC conference. Five of their opponents sit in the top 25 of the NCAA Division I preseason rankings.
The Cardinals ended the 2025 season 26-25, with a team batting average of .299. They placed 10th overall in the ACC, but have a great chance of ranking higher this season.
Promising additions
Utility player Char Lorenz’s transfer to Louisiana State University is the most notable difference for the Cards this season. Lorenz led the Cards at the plate with a .368 batting average, which is the highest on the team. She also led the team in doubles, triples, homeruns, RBI’s and total bases. The loss of Lorenz will undoubtedly cause some trouble for the Cardinals at the plate and in the field this spring.
There will also be a few impressive new faces for the Cardinals this year: Freshman Addy O’Dell and Jayden Gohs. Both players were recently added to the Softball America Freshman Watchlist. O’Dell and Gohs will bring fresh talent to the field for the 2026 season.
O’Dell was placed on the Extra Innings Softball top 50 players list throughout her high school career, while also setting a school record for stolen bases, going 39 for 39. Gohs gained an impressive .453 ERA and 339 strikeouts in her high school junior season.
Challenges ahead
There are many tough opponents on the Cardinals’ schedule
Early in the season, the Cards face off against #17 Stanford on Feb. 28, 29 and March 1.
In recent seasons, Stanford has continued to get better. While the loss of standout pitcher NiJaree Canady two years ago put a huge dent in the Tree’s defense, they still have a strong lineup on the field and at the plate.
With players like River Mahler and Emily Jones going .429 and .413 respectively at the plate last season, the Cardinals will undoubtedly have some trouble keeping the Trees off the bases.
After this series, the Cardinals will face number #12 Clemson in early March. Clemson comes off an amazing 2025 season, going 48-14 with players like Maddie Moore and Alex Brown bringing major power to the plate and on the field. Moore recorded a fielding percentage of .980, while also earning a batting average of .411 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI’s.
Overall, as opening day approaches, the Cardinals will be challenged early and often throughout the season. With the addition of new talent at the plate and on the field, the Cardinals have a big chance to turn things around and establish themselves higher up in the ACC rankings this spring.
