Softball clinches Senior weekend series

Softball Run Rules UVA

Everyone hit and everyone scored in the Cards 2nd game of the series vs UVA in the 11-3 run-rule win.

The first inning looked like we might be in for a pitcher's duel with Megan Hensley in the circle for UofL.  No one was making solid contact on the ball, but later in the game, the offense started settling in, perhaps figuring our the pitchers a bit, and we started to see more base runners and scoring.

The Cards would get the scoring started in the 2nd inning, with Megan Hensley taking a plunk to the ankle, which looked like it probably would've hurt, but she showed no evidence of any discomfort in the trot to 1st base.  Jenna Jordan got the first solid contact of the game with a double to right center.  Hensley, not particularly known for speed on the basepaths, but no slow-poke either, stretched it around from 1st to home.  The throw from the 2nd base cutoff hit her helmet as she slid into home safe.  A rough round of the bases for the sophomore, but the Ashland native wasn't concerned about it once she touched home and put the first score up on the scoreboard.  Jenna Jordan would subsequently score on a fielding error.

UVA juggled their fielding arrangement in the third, bringing their right fielder in to the pitching
circle, and sending the previous pitcher out to right field.  It didn't help.  Moe Meyer got hit by a pitch, Nicole "Poof" Pufahl doubled out to left field, scoring the speedy Meyer.  Maryssa Becker singled, scoring Poof, and then advanced to 2nd on the throw.  She got to third on some gutsy running on a wild pitch.  The pitchers stuck together with Hensley doubling to bring Becker home.  Hensley would get tagged out at 2nd when a fast grounder to the short stop from Jamie Soles left her scrambling to get back to the base, and didn't get there in time.  With two outs, Tiarra Sanabria ripped her 2nd home run in two games, lifting this one to the fitness track in left.  The yellow shirts had to retrieve it from the FirstBuild parking lot across Brandeis.  Alison "Mike" Szydlowski would eventually get tagged out trying to get home on some aggressive base running.  Don't blame Mike for that one, Coach Pearsall, in the post-game interview took responsibility for sending her, thinking it was a good bet with a solid lead already in the board.

UVA would score 2 in the 4th, and then in the bottom half of the inning would switch their pitchers back to their original fielding locations and had good success.  Two foul fly balls caught, and a fly out to center would sit the Cards down in order.

The Cavs would put another on the board in the 5th, bringing the score to 7-3.  The Cards were looking for a quick exit on the warm day, and they would have it.  Jamie Soles would get to first on a single up the middle, surrounded by a pair of pop outs.  So, with 1 runner on 1st, and two outs, the Cards went to work, though to be fair, some of the credit goes to the UVA pitcher.  Sanabria got to take a stroll, then Mike got hit by a pitch, loading the bases.  Jordan McNary got to take a stroll, scoring Jamie Soles.  Moe Meyer singled up the middle then advanced on the throw, scoring Mike and Sanabria, while moving Mike to 3rd.  UVA, looking for answers, switched their pitchers again, and again it didn't really help.  Poof got to take a stroll, and then Becker smacked a single to center which scored McNary.  If you've been keeping count, that puts the score at 11-3 in the bottom of the fifth, resulting in a run-rule win for the Cards.

The Cards hope to be back in action today at noon, weather permitting (your correspondent is looking out of the window at a solid rain at the time of this writing), for a Senior Day celebration.  The Cards will be honoring Maryssa Becker, Moe Meyer, Tiarra Sanabria, and Jordan McNary.

LINK: POST GAME SANDY PEARSALL

LINK: THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR 4/29/17

-- JMcA

Softball Opens Series with Win -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Two Big Innings Lift Diamond Cards

Louisville opened a weekend series with Virginia yesterday afternoon trying to beat the rain. After failing to close any of the three games against Florida State last week, Louisville needed some conference love this week. Last night, the offense was able to make it happen. The Cards trailed twice yesterday, and twice they were able to string together enough offense to take the lead. 

With all of the solo shots, yesterday's game felt like an
exhibition of power.

Virginia opened the scoring with a bases loaded, two run single in the second inning. The Cards were unable to answer immediately, but put together a three run third inning, highlighted by a Tiarra Sanabria solo homer to jump out in front. Virginia, not to be outdone, hit solo home runs in each of the next three innings. Fortunately, Louisville pitcher, Maryssa Becker, was able to limit the damage to just those dingers and Louisville trailed 5-3 in the sixth. What followed was a combination of small ball, grit, and luck. Louisville put together a 4 run bottom of the sixth using no more power than a one out double. They trailed 5-4 with runners on second and third and two outs. Three straight two out singles (with a couple of errors) plated unearned runs to put the Cards up 7-5. Becker opened the seventh inning by allowing the first two runners to get on base before Coach Pearsall put Megan Hensley, the starter of yesterday's game, back in for the save opportunity. Hensley made short work of the three batters she faced and that was the game.

Louisville now sits at 27-17 and 10-7 in conference play. They're fourth in the conference, just a game and a half behind third place Boston College. The Cards are actually even with the Eagles overall with BC having played two more games. Virginia, at 8-14 is fourth from the bottom in the conference and Louisville desperately needs this sweep to keep the gap behind BC minimal. Boston College is currently playing Georgia Tech, the second to last place team in the league. Barring any rain difficulties, Louisville and Virginia will continue their series today at Ulmer at 1PM.

Radio Heads

The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour is back again, unable to be scared off by storms that wake up the entire city in the middle of the night. Paulie, Jeff, and I will talk softball, postseason play for lacrosse and tennis, what new things we know about men's and women's basketball, and anything else we can fit into the hour. Tune into 100.9 WCHQ FM, download the WCHQ FM app, or hit up Crescent Hill Radio's website at 11AM to get your fix of the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics live on the air.

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-

Tuesday Cardinal Couple - WCWS Reflections on Pitching

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( IN TODAY'S TUESDAY EDITION OF CARDINAL COUPLE, WORLDWIDE JEFF MCADAMS DECIDES TO LET HIS GALL BLADDER WRITE THE COLUMN...A CONCILIATORY GESTURE...SINCE IT MAY NOT BE AROUND MUCH LONGER. WE'RE ALL ABOUT OPPORTUNITY HERE AT CARDINAL COUPLE...JEFF AND "Gallie" DISCUSS THEIR RECENT OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE WCWS)  

WCWS Softball Binge Watching

If you listened to Saturday's Cardinal Couple Radio Hour on Crescent Hill Radio, you heard that I've been dealing with some gall bladder issues and have been a bit under the weather since about Thursday and have largely been laid up on my couch.

Conveniently, the Women's College World Series, the NCAA championship event for Softball, also started Thursday.  To say that I've watched a lot of softball over the weekend doesn't really capture it.  In fact, I've probably watched just about every pitch of the WCWS...minus those where I dozed off thanks to the Percocet...and I continue to watch it right now as I write this article.

I've noticed something, and this isn't just based on the observations of the eight teams in this year's world series, but they have certainly brought it into sharper focus.  The common thread among these eight teams, and in teams in the WCWS in years past, has been pitching.  We've talked about pitching woes here on Cardinal Couple in the past as well as on the radio show, and I think Paulie and I disagree in some of this, but I'm starting to worry that UofL Softball is still not going down the right path in the pitching staff area.  The thing I've noticed, though, is that these teams have one primary pitcher that seems to pitch most, or even all, of their games.  In softball, its feasible to have one pitcher take you through most, if not all, of the season and post-season, and all of the teams that seem to make it deep into post-season show this pattern.

Torrid Tori Collins and DEX

There are exceptions, and there are certainly example that can be pointed to for when you need to be prepared to replace a pitcher that is just out of gas...the most recent example of that is UK's loss in the WCWS when it was clear to all that Kelsey Nunnley was just exhausted, but no substitution was forthcoming.

A couple of years ago, UofL had a fantastic pitcher, Tori Collins, who pitched most of the season and
it was one of the better seasons Louisville has had in softball.  As an aside, Tori went on to marry former UofL Football player Dexter Heyman and the two have an absolutely adorable child, now.

Last season, UofL really only had two pitchers, Caralisa "Carl" Connell and a transfer Rachel LeCoq.  Carl started out the season quite well, and Rachel struggled a little early.  As the season went on, however, Carl...well...there's no nice way to put this...she just fell apart as a pitcher.  This left Rachel picking up the pieces, which she increasingly did as the season went on.  When the NCAA Regionals came around, UofL had done well enough to host, but eventually, with one loss in the bag, came up against a very good UCLA team on Saturday night.  I remember that night well, though I wish I didn't.  Let's just suffice it to say that everyone was glad when that game was over.  The verdict?  Rachel was worn out and developing blisters on her pitching fingers, and Carl just wasn't getting the job done - UofL just ran out of pitching.

It should be noted that Jasmine Smithson Willett was a freshman pitcher on the squad who could hit as well...but saw little action in the circle in the 2013 season and decided to transfer after one year. She did occasionally play outfield for Louisville on occasion and actually came in to finish the UCLA game...whether her skills were good enough to possibly contend for a more active role is something we'll never know.

So what's the response?  Go recruit more pitching, right?  I thought so too, and that's what has happened (it should be pointed out that our freshmen pitchers this year, Maryssa Becker, and Tiarra Sanabria, were already signed by this point), Coach P and staff went and recruited a couple of more pitchers to join the Cardinals pitching staff.  Rachel LeCoq and Caralisa Connell have now both graduated, leaving Maryssa and Tiarra.  Next year Bridgette Flaherty, a southpaw, and Madi Norman will be joining the pitching staff, bringing the stable back to four.

So, where's my concern?  Well, I'm excited about having a leftie in the mix, for sure, and Maryssa Becker certainly showed this year that she has the potential to be a real go-to pitcher.  My concern is the approach to the pitching staff...if you don't do well, you're going to get pulled and someone else put in your place...may be counterproductive.  It certainly doesn't give the pitcher the confidence to pitch through struggles and back to success.

Ex-Cards pitcher Aja Sherman
was the first UofL hurler to
throw a perfect game.

I just worry that we're not developing a pitcher that can reliably close the deal.  Logic says a staff of
multiple good pitchers is better, because just have to find the one that is "on" at that moment and let them take over the game.  But you may have already done too much damage as you cycle through pitchers that are "off" before you find one that's "on" and you're in too deep of a hole for the offense to dig out of.

I'm not a softball expert by any means, but my observations from watching a whole lot of the WCWS suggests that maybe a different strategy should be in order.  Maybe our coaching staff are thinking largely the same way, but they just don't know which of the four pitchers in our stable (two freshmen and two sophomores, so plenty of youth) will develop into a real go-to pitcher.  I don't know.

I just know that despite numerous bright spots in our pitching the past couple of years, it hasn't been adequate for getting to the next level of play in the NCAA....that being the Super Regional and ultimately the WCWS.

JMCA


(EDITOR'S NOTE: HERE'S A FOLLOW UP ON JASMINE SMITHSON-WILLETT)

The decision to transfer from Louisville to Oregon was simple for Smithson-Willett. After suffering a stress fracture her freshman year, Smithson-Willett wasn’t satisfied with her results. Naturally, when she heard of an opportunity to play for Oregon as a pitcher — a position she’s always wanted to play at the college level — Smithson-Willett made the move.

“I didn’t even get a chance to suck (at Louisville),” Smithson-Willett said. “So, I really wanted to make an impression this year. It’s all about chances and when I was looking at schools, I asked who would give me a chance. Coach White really took me under his wing and I appreciate that.”

Since arriving to Oregon, Smithson-Willett has smoothly transitioned back into her role as a pitcher and gained the respect of her teammates in the process. Smithson-Willett, the hardest-throwing pitcher for the Ducks, adds another dimension that every team wishes it had.

Smthson-Willett was 4-1 for the Ducks in five starts. She made 20 circle appearances in 2014. Oregon was eliminated from the WCWS on Sunday by Alabama 2-0.
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- A great day to be a Cardinal fan!

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

It was a big weekend for Louisville Women’s athletics, and my how they responded. 

Softball went 4-1 at home this weekend to get back above .500.  Lacrosse won two on the road putting up big offensive numbers and the women’s basketball team defended home court and swept Rutgers on the season.

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A-Tayy gives us that beautiful smile
(Photo by Charlie Springer - UofLCardGame.com)

A career performance by Asia Taylor led the team to 73-58 win over the Scarlet Knights.  The win ties a school record of 17 home wins in a season and guarantees the Cardinals no less than second place in conference play in their sole season in The American. 

The Cardinal faithful came out to support the women today, topping out at 14,327, to celebrate the annual pink game and get their fix of this team, and seniors, as the season rapidly winds down.   

Robbie Bartlett got things started for the day by singing the National Anthem.  We were just talking about Robbie, and the lack of her Ballgame National Anthem apperances, on the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour yesterday.  It was nice to see a local favorite back out on the court getting us all ready for the opening tip.  Robbie sings the opening and closing music for our show each Saturday.

Julie Hermann was back also in town...seated behind the Rutgers' bench to see how her new university would do against her former school. Julie in a skirt...not a bad sight to see at all...

Bria attemps inside (Photo by Charlie Springer)

The Cardinals played a very good game against a young and very tough Rutgers team. This is an exciting and talented team.  Tyler Scaife, the freshman who lit us up in Piscataway, had another dominant performance for the Scarlet Knights, but it was not enough to tip the balance in their favor.  17 points Sunday.

Rutgers is also leaving The American at the season’s end, to join the Big 10.

With a poor shooting performance for several Cardinals, it is heartening to see a double digit win in a tournament like atmosphere.   Sara Hammond went 3-10, Bria Smith went 1-6 and Antonita Slaugher  went 0-5 behind the arc and the Cardinals were still able to win going away. 

 The Cardinals started a little slow offensively, with Rutgers taking an early lead. Hammond missed 3-4 early chippies under the basket before she stepped back and sank a three.   Slaughter, who had an off shooting night, was able to affect them defensively hustling on several key plays keeping the Cardinal ball alive. 

Breast cancer survivors help lead a cheer

While there were many contributions from varying players throughout the game to change and shift momentum, there was no bigger player today than Asia Taylor.  She flat out balled.  Taylor left nothing on the court, and in doing so, had a career performance of 25 points, 15 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals.   Taylor played like the 5^th year senior that she is taking full advantage of her last year in a Cardinal uniform. 

The Cardinals have two games left.  Next Saturday in Cincinnati and the final game of the regular season back at the Yum Center against #1 ranked Connecticut.  Monday, March 3, against Connecticut, is your last time to see this team, and these seniors, in their final regular season game.   With hard work and a little luck, we may just get to see them return to the Yum for the regionals of the NCAA tournament.

Future prospective LadyBirds and Cheerleaders lead the crowd

March 3 will be a celebration of the seniors, Asia Taylor, Tia Gibbs, Antonita Slaughter and the always interesting Shoni Schimmel.  It is also Native American Appreciation day.  The lower bowl of the arena is sold out, but there are still seats to be had.  $5 is a bargain to see this game. Get your seats folks and get there early.  It is going to be an exciting finish to the season. 

Call (502) 852-7254 or e-mail johnathan@gocards.com to get your seats!


EDITOR'S NOTE:

NOT ENOUGH CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF A-TAYY TODAY. THE 'LOOK' WAS THERE TODAY. SHE GETS THIS LOOK (sometimes) DURING GAMES...LIKE A HAWK GETTING READY TO SWOOP DOWN ON AN UNSUSPECTING PREY...OR A SLEEK, SLIM PANTHER ABOUT TO RUN DOWN AND DISABLE A GAZELLE.

 A LOOK OF INTENSITY. OF CONFIDENCE. A LOOK OF CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING. WE LOVE IT WHEN A-TAYY COMES OUT WITH 'THE LOOK'. YOU KNOW ALL IS GOING TO BE OK...

A LOOK THAT SAYS...WINNER.

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Softball finished a weekend of play against Northern Kentucky University winning 8-0.  The Softball Cards got out to a quick lead by scoring 4 in the first inning.  While that is all they would need to win for the day, the game officially ended in the bottom of the sixth due to the run rule.  (The run rule is in effect when a team leads by more than 8 runs after the 5^th inning.) 

Freshman Tiarra Sanabria got her first official start on the mound and went two innings giving up one hit and striking out two.  Sanabria was relieved by Caralisa Connell, who fanned 4 in two innings, and Maryssa Becker closed out the game and got the win on the day. 

The softball team heads to the west coast next weekend to participate in the Mayfair Tournament in Fullerton, CA.   They will return home the weekend of March 7-9. 

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Lacrosse finished their Virginia road trip at William & Mary on Sunday and won in a dominant performance, with a final score of 18-5.

Nikki Boltja had a season-best 7 goals to lead the Cardinals.  The Cardinals had a 21 minute stretch in the game where they scored 14 unanswered goals.  This was the 4^th best unanswered stretch in school history. 

Coach Kellie Young had this to say about her teams performance on Sunday:
 

"This was one of the best overall efforts of my college coaching days," head coach Kellie Young said. "End to end, every player gave their best effort and showed incredible attention to detail."

Sounds like a great win and great team play for Lacrosse.  Next up for the team is a return home for a match up on Saturday, March 1 against Denver.  With very few home gams on the schedule for the team this will be a rare opportunity to see a game.  

jenny obryan
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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Smithson-Willett leaving the softball program

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Smithson-Willett granted released from Softball

-Eight freshman make up 2013 recruiting class


( DAY 4 of 'Julie Free Zone' here at the Couple.)


Cardinal Couple has learned that freshman pitcher/outfielder Jasmine Smithson-Willett has been granted her request to be released from her softball scholarship at the University of Louisville. She was one of
three freshmen on the squad...along with Ally Vaughn and Brittany Sims. 

JSW played mostly in the outfield for the Cards, helping fill the left field spot when Jen Esteban was sidelined with a leg injury. She also appeared in the pitching circle twice for Sandy Pearsall's squad...giving up three hits and three runs in an early season appearance against UNLV and two runs in the final inning of the season for Louisville against UCLA.

Often, it is hard to crack an established and veteran lineup and the softball Cards certainly had one of those...all eight of the 2013 regular starters had been starters or "first off the bench" performers in the 2012 season.

Smithson-Willett came in with good pitching credentials, but with returning starter Caralisa Connell and transfer Rachel Le Coq putting up significantly good ERA numbers, JSW's chances to make any starts or lengthy appearances inside the circle never happened.

You have to wonder if that break might have occurred for her in her sophomore year. With just 10 returning players, her chances for a starting spot in the outfield looked possible...since Hannah Kiyohara is the only returning, starting outfielder that we're positive is coming back. The Louisville roster lists Jordan Trimble as a redshirt junior but other sources indicate she's finished her eligibility.

Maryssa Becker

It also could be that Smithson-Willett wants to be a pitcher primarily...and with both Connell and LeCoq returning for next season...it might be a tough rotation to crack....especially if incoming freshman Maryssa Becker can convert her high school success (26-0, 0.43 ERA, 313 strikeouts and 6A Oregon 2012 Player of the Year) to the college game.

Becker is having a huge senior year as well. Link below:

BECKER BURIES THE BATTERS

Becker and her North Medford teammates also won the 6A Oregon State Championship Saturday with a 2-1 victory where she hurled a no-hitter. Details also available at oregonlive.com.

She appears to be a pitcher that will have great success at Louisville and turned down a lot of high profile softball programs to cast her lot with the Cardinals.

We're proponents of the three pitcher rotation. We had hoped to see it this year. We'd love to see it next season. You can't argue with the success Pearsall had with Le Coq and Connell (46-14)....but adding a proven quality hurler like Becker gives Pearsall an outstanding addition to baffle THE AMERICAN and ACC batters in the future.  

It is not immediately known where JSW will end up. A potentially powerful and talented player that was stymied by an early season leg injury, lack of playing time and chances to prove her skills...we wish her the best wherever she lands and glad to have at least one season to see her play for the Red and Black.

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Autumn McDuffie

Speaking of freshmen, Louisville had eight that will join the Cardinal softball lineup for next season. Coach Pearsall has two high school pitchers (Maryssa Becker and Tiarra Sanabria), three outfielders  (Morgan Meyer, Jordan McNary and Nicole Pufahl), two infielders (Rachel Houck and Autumn McDuffie) and a catcher (Kristina Dillard) coming aboard. Several of the players are adept at other positions as well. The Louisville area and surrounding region are represented well...with half of the freshmen living within a three hour drive of campus.

Geographical breakdown:

Maryssa Becker   --    Medford, OR
Kristina Dillard   --    Annapolis, MD
Rachel Houck      --    Greenfield, IN
Autumn McDuffie    --     Louisville (PRP)
Morgan Meyer     --    Louisville  (Mercy)
Jordan McNary    --    Madisonville, KY
Nicole Pufahl      --    Moorpark, CA
Tiarra Sanabria   --    Williamstown, NJ

-Paulie

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