Louisville Softball sinks Virginia Tech 12-3...Lacrosse falls at North Carolina -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

NINE-RUN FIFTH INNING BLASTS CARDS TO WIN


The University of Louisville Softball team exploded for nine runs in a wild fifth inning to gain sole control of second place in the ACC with a 12-3 drubbing of Virginia Tech in Ulmer Stadium Saturday afternoon. A three-run homer by Megan Hensley was the game ending blow in a contest where Louisville actually trailed 3-1 early. 

The preliminary fireworks for the Cards got underway in the bottom of the third when Sidney Melton reached on a infield hit and trotted home on starting pitcher Maryssa Becker's towering blast over the left field fence to tie the contest at 3-3. It was Becker's seventh 'touch 'em all' of the season and was a prequel to the action that was to come. 

The Hokies threatened to take the lead in the contest in the top of the fifth when they pieced together two singled and Becker plunked Chelsea Whitcomb to load the bags with two outs.  Becker bore down, though, and got a strikeout to get the Cards back safely to the dugout still knotted at 3-3.

The Cards delivered the boom in the bottom of the fifth....batting around and winning the game on Hensley's second at-bat of the inning. She and Lillie Goetz started the inning by beating out infield hits and a fielding miscue allowed  Jenna Jordan to reach and fill the bags full of Cards. A walk to Nicole Pufahl brought home the first run of the inning and Brittany Sims cleared the bases with a triple to right-center that scooted past the diving Hokie center-fielder and bring the tally to 7-3 Louisville. Sims and Morgan Meyer found home when Jordan McNary benefited from another Hokie fielding gaff and Becker drew a walk to set the stage for Hensley's team-leading 11th. four-bagger of the season, a line shot that found the right field berm. 

The walkoff shot ended the contest at 12-3 and the joyous celebration at home plate was a significant contrast to the bewildered Tech team slowly stepping off the field. 

Becker goes to 14-5 with a workmanlike five innings where five hits and two strikeouts were charted. The Cards (25-8, 10-3) will tangle with Tech today for two...first game pitch should be delivered starting at 11 a.m. or so (this particular group of umpires seem fascinated with standing around home plate prior to a game beginning and yesterday's start was delayed by eight minutes for no apparent reason).  

If you can't take in the action live...ESPN3 will have the play-by-play. 



Be sure to check out Sam Draut's great write-ups on the game and his conversation with Cardinal infielder Sidney Melton for The Cardinal at the links below:


http://www.louisvillecardinal.com/2016/04/sidney-melton-sets-the-table-for-the-cardinal-lineup/

http://www.louisvillecardinal.com/2016/04/softball-swings-past-virginia-tech-12-3/



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LACROSSE FALLS TO UNC 15-5

"We didn't come to play today" was Louisville Lacrosse coach Kellie Young's summation of the 10-goal loss to the TarHeels in Chapel Hill yesterday afternoon and the score would certainly indicate that the Cards turned in one of their worst performances of the season. 

The #5 Cards did provide the first net-finder of the contest when Hannah Koloski took a Kaylin Morissette feed but the #3 UNC squad retaliated with three straight scores over the next ten minutes. It was part of a 9-2 Tar Heel run that had them comfortably ahead 9-3 before Cards Emily Howell scored at the buzzer for a 9-4 halftime score.

Young's halftime motivational talks usually have a positive effect on the Loucrosse squad but it was UNC who came out red-hot to start the final half with two goals within 40 seconds. Koloski's second score of the day drwe Louisville to within six at 11-5 but the TarHeels kept the Cards attack at bay after that and finished the game on a 4-0 run to convincingly take a 15-5 triumph. 


The TarHeels out-drew the Cards 11-10 and Morissette, the nation's leader in draw controls was limited to just seven for UofL. The Cards fall to 3-2 in ACC Play and 12-2 overall.

Both of Louisville's losses this season have come on the road to ACC foes (Duke providing the first loss) and have been by double-digit margins. Fortunately, Young and company return home for their next tilt...the Cards final home game of the season against Virginia at noon on Saturday April 16th. With the Louisville Spring Football Game and a softball double-header also going on that day....Floyd Street will be jammed and rocking from Brandeis to Central Ave.

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THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

"WHO LET THEM ON THE AIR AGAIN?"

In case you missed Saturday's exciting broadcast (and shame on you if you did!)... it's available now on the Crescent Hill website or by clicking the link below:



LINK: THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR 4/9/16

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THAT THING?"
"NOPE...GOT NO CLUE BUT IT'S SHINY!" 

Louisville Cardinal student newspaper sports editor, noted cereal killer and Cardinal Couple eternal intern Sam Draut was in-studio with Paulie and Worldwide Jeff McAdams joined us via smartphone from Louisville Volleyball spring play. 

We played the entire Jeff Walz interview and Sam provided his thoughts and insights on softball and lacrosse as well.

Give it a listen! 

paulie
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