Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Huskies get Geno his ninth...Wild Finish in Softball

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- UConn 79 - Notre Dame 58 in NCAA WBB Final

- Softball goes to extra innings in 4-3 win

- Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em final totals

Geno Auriemma passed Tennessee Pat in career NCAA WBB titles by picking up his ninth last night in UConn's domination over Notre Dame in the NCAA WBB Championship game in Nashville, TN. At least it'll bring an end to that song that Connie Briton keeps singing about the 'only way she knows'

Mute button creator, I salute you.

Oh, to have the powerful duo of Stewie and Stefanie in your paint.

And that's what this one was about. Just like 39 opponents before them, Notre Dame had no answer when it came to shutting down the UConn paint-dwellers. Breanna Stewart had 21 points and Stefanie Dolson added 17 for the Huskies.

Hey, maybe they can buy those surplus 40-0 t-shirts that UK had printed early in the season...

Chris Dailey smacks herself in the
forehead. I have no idea why...

Yes, UND missed Natalie Achonwa. Yes, they made a brief first half rally to keep it interesting for awhile. UConn led 45-38 at the half, though and outscored the Irish 18-4 to start the final twenty minutes. Stewie and Stef had 10 of those. It was time to toss water on the campfire, call in the dogs and head it back in to the city.

Geno was quite emotional after the win, breaking down in his post game interview with our favorite ESPN sideline reporter...Hustlin' Holly...who wears blue in the KFC YUM! Center and sprints in high heels.

He had reason to be. He had the best "4" and "5" ...by far... in women's college basketball this season. Maybe of all time. Stef goes on to the WNBA or whaever the Stef Dolson's of the world do after graduation and Geno gets Stewie back to team up with Morgan Tuck, Kiah Stokes or one particular fabulous, fearless #1 ranked high school All-American/soon-to-be college freshman who hasn't declared yet...but is 6'5", from South Carolina and named after my favorite Steely Dan CD.

Louisville, Stanford, Notre Dame...all gave it their best shot. The truth is...BYU probably gave the Irish their biggest scare of the season. Connecticut can now claim to be the reigning king and championship center of college basketball.

Wait till next year. With a healthy Shawnta and Sherrone... plus returning Sara, "E" and Cortnee...the UofL paint game will be formidible.

Could this six-pack (if you toss Myshia Hines-Allen in there) be UConn formidible? Nah, probably not...but still powerful.


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A wild finish to Louisville softball last night at Ulmer...the Cards going eight innings to knock off Evansville 4-3.

Louisville won a game without Maryssa Becker pitching.

Impressive.

It was Rachel LeCoq on the mound for 7.2 innings to get the win. She was cruising along with a shutout going into the top of the seventh and had a three-run cushion to work with. The UofL scoring started with Katie Keller doubling and scoring in the third inning and Taner Fowler producing a two-RBI single in the sixth.

Evansville wasn't ready to get on the bus and travel 1-64 West just yet, though.

With two outs in the inning and a runner on, the Purple Aces got a single and two doubles to tie the game. Exit LeCoq and enter Caralisa Connell...who got the third out.

This is NOT Paige Alford running around the bases...
just in case you had any doubts.

They do extra innings in women's softball with scoring runs the main objective. The first batter of an inning automatically goes to second base. Evansville couldn't get theirs to the plate...Rachel LeCoq back on the mound for the Cards. Louisville stuck speed merchant Paige Alford on the middle bag to start the bottom of the eighth inning, Tierra Sanabria went to the plate...watched Alford advance to third on a wild pitch...and then poked the game-winning hit to left field.

Louisville goes to 24-15 with the win and has won their last four in a row. They stay in Ulmer for the weekend and host the UConn Huskies (no, not Stewie and her bunch) for a three-game, American Athletic Conference showdown beginning Saturday, April 12th. at noon.

Hopefully the Cards will tap into the energy of Thunder Over Louisville...which will occur later Saturday night...and play 'powerball' against the UConn hurlers. The weather looks great for the weekend, why not head out to the ol' ballpark after listening to Cardinal Couple Radio Hour at 11 a.m. Saturday and before trekking down to the Ohio River.

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With the final game played last night, we have a winner in the Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em Contest and congratulations to ...me.

I ended at 49-14...barely surviving the ending charge from several worthy opponents. Tying for second was the real Joe Hill from Naples, FLA and New Albany juggernaunt Curtis Franklin at 48-15. A two-way tie for third...the mysterious Charlyse and our Lexington buddy Blue Lou with 47-16 totals. The rest of the field:

46-17      Gary W.
46-17      Kenny S.
46-17      Sonja
44-19      David Watson
44-19      Viv Mc
42-21      Worldwide Jeff
40-23      Willie Cat Fan
37-26      Jennifer B
36-27      A Cardinal Chimp
29-34      The Other One
27-36      Matthew Mitchell for Governor

It was great fun and we'll do it again next year. Since I already have a Cardinal Couple T-Shirt...I'm sending one to Curtis for his second place finish. Joe has already purchased two with a donation to the website/radio show.

We still have some shirts.

M,L, XL and XXL available. With a $12 donation to Cardinal Couple via PayPal or personal check, you can have one, too.

Don't be shy, step right up and get yours. It's a very comfortable heavy cotton shirt that would look great on you this summer. And, you're helping a non-profit LLC meet the costs of producing a website, radio show and general mayhem. You know you'd look darn good in one...why wait?

Send those checks to:

Cardinal Couple
PO Box 91521
Louisville, KY   40291

and indicate what size you want. Or click the Pay-Pal donation link on the Right Side of the Site.  

We thank you.

paulie
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