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.


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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.


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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