Softball Opens Weekend with Win
Louisville headed up to Chestnut Hill this weekend for a series with Boston College. The Golden Eagles have had quite a bit of weather issues recently, but this game went off without a hitch. After Boston College opened the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the first, the bats went cold for both teams for the next couple of innings. The Cards changed that with a huge 5 run inning in the top of the fourth to go ahead 5-1. Louisville would score no more runs in the game, but held off a last chance rally by BC to take the win, 5-3.
Maryssa Becker picked up her 17th win of the season in this one. She has recorded the win for all but 5 of Louisville's positive decisions. As more of a baseball fan, depending so much on a single pitcher is nearly unfathomable to me, but credit to her for recognizing her role as a workhorse and getting it done day in and day out. Becker added to her day with a double. Morgan Meyer led the Louisville charge going 2-2 at the plate. Unlike the pitching, defense in this game left a lot to be desired. The two teams combined for a whopping seven errors. Three of the four BC errors, unsurprisingly, came in Louisville's big inning. In fact, all 5 Louisville runs were credited as unearned. For a stat chasing pitcher hoping to keep that ERA down, it's great news. For a team oriented pitcher hoping to win, not so much.
Louisville and Boston College take the field for game two at noon today. Louisville will work for the series win, while BC will try to tie it up.
Lacrosse Hosts UNC
In what will be a huge came for the Cardinals, the second ranked Tarheels come to town today. Louisville and North Carolina are both coming off of a week's rest going into today's game. Louisville used overtime to take down Virginia Tech last week while UNC made short work of Notre Dame, winning 16-9 on the road. North Carolina sits 2 games ahead of Louisville in both conference and overall, having played two fewer non-conference games. Louisville is looking to shore up their resume for the NCAA tournament and not much else would help more this season than taking down North Carolina today. The game starts at 12PM and it should be a bit warmer by then. Head on down to the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium and see one of the premier matchups of the season.
Baseball Uncharacteristically Flat in Loss
Wake Forest is in town for a battle between top 25 teams and a chance to tie Louisville for second in the division. The Cards trotted out Brendan McKay, as they do on Friday nights, and he did what he's been asked to do all season. Brendan pitched seven solid innings, striking out more batters than flyouts and groundouts combined (11-10). His lone mistake was a two run home run in the top of the fourth inning. Those two runs were enough to lift the Demon Deacons above Louisville's one run mustered in the bottom of the third. The final score was 2-1.
It was a disappointing day at the plate as Louisville batters struck out more times than they walked or hit (10-8). They left 8 men on base. Credit goes to Wake's starter, Parker Dunshee. Dunshee, like McKay, went seven full, gave up only 5 hits, and tossed only one walk. Unlike McKay, one of Dunshee's five hits was not a home run and that was the difference.
Louisville will look to bounce back and tie the series with a win today. First pitch at Jim Patterson is at 1PM and the game is available on 93.9 The Ville or on the ACC Network Extra.
Cardinal Couple Radio Hour
We'll travel down the stairs to the studio in Crescent Hill this morning for another exciting edition of Cardinal Couple. We're in the midst of spring sports and that's what we'll look forward to talking about today. Any questions you may have, throw them in the comments section or tweet at any of us and we'll try to answer your question on air. Beyond that, tune in to 100.9 WCHQ or find us on the WCHQ app at 11AM.
Until next time, Go Cards.
-CH-
Question for you. Sorry I didn't get it in on time but all four of you were really big on Arica Carter. I just don't see it. Since it is your write-up Case, tell me why you think she will start over Dana Evans?
ReplyDelete-- The Real Joe Hill --
Better question is why one thinks an unproven freshman of would start over a seasoned veteran pg. Arica was really coming along.
ReplyDeleteI'll jump in for Case here until he responds and just point out that Arica was the starting point guard before the injury. She picked up a ton of game floe experience watch the action this year.
DeleteDana Evans is dynamic, no doubt. A couple of freshmen guards this year did wonderous things with their squads. Minyon Moore, to name one. Can Evans come in, learn the complex Walz offense over the summer and fall and be out there during crunch time directing the offense? I gotta think that maybe not right away but she could very well be one of five on the floor in those close ones with two or three minutes left in the game come conference schedule time.
Paulie