Softball Cards Open against GCU -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CARDS MUST GO THROUGH GRAND CANYON TO REACH NEBRASKA

OK, most geography scholars would shake their head in disagreement when they read the headline for today's article. Or, ask the following question. "Where are they travelling from to get to Nebraska." 

Fortunately this isn't a geographical website.  We talk UofL women's athletics here and we are talking about the most likely route Louisville Softball will have to follow in their NCAA Championship quest. Grand Canyon University is Louisville's first opponent in the Lincoln Regional and I'd say it a 99% certainty that Nebraska will defeat South Dakota St. to meet the winner of UofL and GCU. 

GCU has an impressive record, no doubt... at 52-8. They are a snake in the tall weeds for the Cards..with the fourth best winning percentage in the last five years in D1 softball at 253-58 (80%).

The Cards didn't get the easiest draw to reach the sweet Sixteen..if they manage to get by GCU..they'll most likely face homestanding Nebraska. Nebraska is #1 in the nation, according to ESPN.com. D1 Softball has Nebraska #2 . Softball America says #2 also. 

The Cards are #24 according to ESPN Softball. D1 Softball says the same. Grand Canyon was in the "also receiving votes" category in the ESPN poll...so maybe the Cards are a slight favorite to get to the field of 32...it's a close one, though, no doubt. 

What are five things UofL has to do to reach the final game of te Nebraska Regional? 

1) Get good pitching. Honestly, Alyssa Zabala has been less than spectacular lately. Brooke Gray has also been hot and cold. Zabala needs to re-find the fire and domination that made her a pitcher to fear back in the early days of her career. Gray needs to return to her unhittable status when she was the best pitcher in the state back in high school at Ballard.  

2) Clear the bases. The Cards have had problems this season with leaving runners on the bags against opponents. Louisville has the base path speed, no doubt, in their lineup...but not always able to get the runner to the plate or get the speed to reach third and to home plate. We hope they can clear the bases tomorrow. 

3) Eliminate the errors. Louisville was not in the top 50 fielding percentage teams in 2026. Grand Canyon snuck in at 48th. Let's hope they perform better in the playoffs. 

4) Powerball. Keep playing powerball. No, we are NOT suggesting the players play the Kentucky lottery games. We'd jut like to see them continue to amass runs like they did in thee regular season. 

5) Runs Cards Runs! This isn't a takeoff on the line for Forrest Gump movie. Louisville was 10th in the nation in runs scored in 2026 . They were second in the ACC, behind Va. Tech and outscored FSU.  We hope Jenny is yelling from the bleachers "Runs Cards Runs" (and they listen.)

4 p.m. game time against GCU. On ESPNU. Case will recap it tomorrow.  

paulie