Sunday Cardinal Couple --Softball takes doubleheader at Villanova

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Softball Cards take two one-run victories

-Tennis eliminated from BIG EAST Tournament 4-2

-Lacrosse today vs. Cincinnati


After producing 23 runs a week ago in a double header, the University of Louisville softball team could just manage six yesterday against the Villanova Wildcats. They were enough, however, to allow Louisville to take both games and improved their record to 41-6 and 14-1 in the BIG EAST.

All that bragging we did on their offensive prowess on Saturday's Cardinal Couple Radio Show must have gotten to their heads. Either that, or the Villanova team tuned in and vowed to make liars out of us...

Louisville 1 - Villanova 0

It was Whitney Arion who provided the only first game fireworks...a second inning fence clearer that put Louisville up 1-0. The Cards had a chance in the fourth to add to the lead...with two outs Arion wrangled a walk, Hannah Kiyohara got plunked by a pitch and Jasmine Smithson took a base on balls to load the bags for Katelyn Mann. Her blooper poke to shallow left was corralled by VU shortshop Ali Lowe to end the threat.

Rachel LeCoq with another fine pitching performance...allowing just four hits and striking out seven WIldcats to go to 16-4

Louisville 5 - Villanova 4

The Cards jumped out to a 1-0 lead for Caralisa Connell in the first inning of the second game. Alicja Wolny drilled a double and got to home when Maggie Ruckenbrod singled.

'Nova tied it in the bottom of the third and took a 4-1 lead on a bases-loaded, three RBI triple from Beth Smetana.

It stayed a three-run VU advantage until the top of the sixth. Kiyohara singled for UofL and Chrisanna Roberts came in to run. Jordan Trimble drew a walk and both Cardinals scored on Mann's single. With the score 4-3, Whitney Arion singled and Katie Keller received a base on balls to load the bags full of Cardinals. Alicja Wolny slapped a grounder to the Villanova second baseman...who mishandled the ball and Wolny beat the throw to first. Mann and Arion scored on the play to make it 5-4 UofL.

Rachel LeCoq got her second win of the day in relief of Connell...going 2.1 innings and retiring the final five Wildcats she faced in a row.

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Louisville women's tennis got eliminated by #2 seed USF in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament yesterday in Tampa, FL. The Cards fell 4-2 to the #2 seeded Bulls.

Once again, the scoring selectivity has me baffled. Eight matches were played, one was stopped before it was finished and one doubles team and two singles participants won matches...but the Cards received only 2 points.

Manuela Velasquez and Mandy Brown succeeded in doubles and Velasquez and Rebecca Shine won their singles matches.

The Cards now await the NCAA Regionals. 64 teams will begin play on May 10th. at various regional sites yet to be determined.

The NCAA Championships will be held at the University of Illinois this year from May 16th - May 27th. Florida will look to add their third straight NCAA title in the events.


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Louisville Lacrosse takes the field for a home contest against the Cincinnati Bearcats today at 1 p.m. The Cards look for their first BIG EAST win of the season against our northern neighbors.

Louisville (8-6, 0-5) is led in scoring by Nikki Boltja, who should get plenty of chances to find the net against UC (5-6, 0-5). 

Paulie

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