Madison Pickens transfers to LSU Softball -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 SOPHOMORE ALL-AMERICAN LEAVES CARDS FOR SEC

Isn't it funny what a couple of days can male? 

I sent Madison Pickens a message a couple of days ago.on Instagram. 

"We sure are glad you came to the Ville." 

Her reply, two hours later:

"I'm thankful I am there too" 

Then, yesterday..we get the news that she is leaving Louisville and headed to LSU. 

Somebody slap me with a (fill in your own noun/s)

As the song goes...famously sung by Dinah Washington....

"24 little hours                                                                                                                                 Brought the sun and the flowers                                                                                                   Where there used to be rain" 

Maybe that is the case for LSU, who ended up getting both the twin sisters...Madison and Mackenzie Pickens. Mackenzie played at Ole Miss, Madison, a Louisville Cardinals star for two years. 

One has to figure there was a ton of NIL floating around down in the bayou to pull off a major recruiting coup like that.  The transfer portal strikes again. 

The Cards lose their best player from last year She batted .457 last year at UofL.

OK, no mystery here.The SEC is better than the ACC. And the chance for the sisters to play together.

And, so it goes..in today's wild kingdom of college sports on steroids

paulie

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Char Lorenz transferring -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Good morning readers and Happy Juneteenth, 

Daryl here checking in midweek with you all.  Case was swamped with work and the University of Louisville observes the federal holiday so we opted to swap the coverage. 
 

Softball

Some UofL sports news and some rather devastating to the Cardinals softball program, star freshman from Munster Indiana, Char Lorenz announced Wednesday afternoon that she was transferring out to head south to LSU. 

 She played in 50 games, all starts, primarily in left field lingering somewhere around 2–4 in the lineup. She also led team in batting average at .368%, slugging .677%, and 53 RBIs. Lorenz broke the single-season freshman record with 53 RBIs on the year, tallied 15 multi-hit games and a team high 15 multi-RBI games, hit 9 home runs, 11 doubles, and 5 triples. She stole 13 bases and committed just 3 errors for a .967 fielding %.

Photo: Jared Anderson

I dont think any of us at Cardinal Couple expected this news coming out of softball but honestly not surprised either.  I can see the opportunity for the small town native to get a big shot in the SEC and a better payday after a stellar first year at UofL.  We are sad to see her go but wish her nothing but the best... unless its against the Cards!! 

With that news, reminder the roster also graduated Sam Booe, Izzy Harrison, Maddi Grant and Ally Alexander and picked up two pitchers out of the state of Ohio, Anna Wise and Madi Reeves.

Ps. shoutout to my dog Jack, its his 16th birthday today!! 

As Always,
Go Cards

~Daryl 

Friday Cardinal Couple -- Softball starts vs. LSU...Becker receives award...Haas does too!

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Softball vs LSU Friday in NCAA 1st round

- Maryssa Becker named to All-Central Region team

- Golf's Emily Haas an Academic All-District selection


-  Shoni TV...Atlanta's first game on Fox Sports South

UofL fans may face a dilemma Friday night when trying to choose between watching Softball's first game in the NCAA Tournament or Shoni Schimmel's first regular season game in the WNBA.

Softball's contest against LSU will be shown on ESPN at 8:30 8:00pm EDT. 

Shoni's debut in the WNBA starts at 7:30 on Fox Sports South.

Hopefully, the remote control doesn't die tonight or I can find a sports bar that will show both.

Never fear, we'll recap both events here at CARDINAL COUPLE in the Saturday edition and discuss them on our weekly radio show @ Crescent Hill Radio.

http://www.crescenthillradio.com .

We air at 11 a.m. on Saturday and archived broadcasts are available by clicking the link at the top of the page.

CARDS VS LSU

The Bayou Bengal softball team comes out of the SEC and complied a 35-22 record this season. They went 13-11 in conference, 19-11 at home, 11-9 as visitors and 5-2 at neutral sites.

Their SEC Conference Championship Tournament run was stopped by UK by a score of 4-3. It was the only appearance they had against the Cats during the season and UK won in extra innings.

The heavy hitters for Louisiana State University are AJ Andrews (.339) and Savannah Jaquish ( .335, 13 HR, 48 RBI's)

In the circle, the main two pitchers are Baylee Corbello ( 17-8,  ERA 2.55) and Ashley Czechner ( 13-12, ERA 3.45)

The Cards could go with either Rachel Le Coq or Maryssa Becker in the circle to quell the LSU bats. LeCoq has had a great last few games and her arm shut down UCF and USF in the AAC Tournament. Becker has been the ace of the staff most of the season. Coach Sandy Pearsall could use both or turn to Caralisa Connell to deliver the strikes.

It's a double elimination format in regional play...so Louisville could face either Arizona or Boston U. after this one.

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Becker was named yesterday to the NCFA All-Central Region second team as a pitcher/utility player. She's the first UofL freshman to get this honor since 2000 when Keola Calderon was named to the All-South Region second team.

Becker's stats have been impressive. A 2.08 ERA and 137 strikeouts. At the plate, Becker hit .312 with 25 RBI's and scored 22 runs.

All the honorees are eligible for selection to one of three NFCA Division I All-America teams...which will be announced on Wednesday, May 28th.


           *            *            *            *            *            *

Sophomore Emily Haas was named to the Capitol One Academic, All-District II First team. It's the second straight year she's garnered this award.

Haas has a 3.98 grade point average and plans on majoring in Biology. ( Shame on the professor who gave her a "B". )

Shankapotumus you are, teacher!

Haas was second on the team in stroke average with a 73.3 average and her ten-foot birdie putt in the AAC Conference Tournament on the 18th. hole in the third day of competition gave the Cards the championship.


            *            *              *            *            *           *

Photo by Charlie Springer -- UofL Card Game

Yes, A-Tayy is on the Minnesota Lynx squad and Shoni is a member of the Atlanta Dream! They both play tonight...Minnesota at 7 p.m. and Atlanta at 7:30. It is the first time that two UofL first year players have made an WNBA roster in the same season and we wish #23 and #31 the best!

We'll recap their games tomorrow...here at the site and on the air. (We'll throw in Angel's stats, too. She's a pretty good player too, you know.)

Who will score the most points? I'll go with Angel...

paulie