Softball and Baseball Clinch Weekend Series -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Softball Sweeps Double Header at Virginia Tech

Like the baseball team, the Louisville softball team will avoid playing on Easter Sunday. However, instead of starting their series on Thursday, Louisville and Virginia Tech rolled the ball out twice yesterday for a double header. Louisville left no doubt yesterday, winning the two games with a combined 19-6 score. 

In the first game, Louisville jumped out ahead to a 3-0 lead in the first inning before Virginia Tech had a big inning of their own in the second and took a 4-3 lead themselves. The game of big innings continued as the Cards put up a six spot in the fourth to regain the lead at 9-4. The Hokies never really threatened Louisville's lead for the rest of the game, scoring just two more runs over the next two innings while Louisville scored four more through the rest of the game. VT's last gasp came in the bottom of the seventh when two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. VT needed all three of those runs plus four more to extend the game, but back to back infield popups got Louisville out of the jam and gave them a game one win.

The second game was all Louisville as the Cards put up a three spot in the first inning, added runs in the third and sixth for good measure, and Maryssa Becker spun a 7 inning shutout. Becker allowed only 6 hits and 2 walks compared to 4 strikeouts. Both of those walks came in the first inning, and Virginia Tech had only one multi hit inning. It was a great game for the Cards who racked up ten hits of their own and played clean baseball with zero errors.

The weekend double header was supposed to be played today, but the forecast caused scheduling to shift. The Battle of the Birds will wrap up today at 10:30AM and the Cards will look for a big series sweep before hosting Western Kentucky for a midweek game on Wednesday.

Baseball Wins Game Two at Georgia Tech

Like the softball team, the Louisville baseball team is on the road at a engineering school. After Brendan McKay opened the weekend showing why he is considered both the best pitcher and the best position player available for the upcoming MLB draft, Louisville turned to seasoned pitcher in his own right Kade McClure. Kade was the midweek starter last season and finished the regular season 12-0, which is pretty amazing. He hasn't been quite as dominant this year, but he's still done well. Friday's game had a bit of a slower start, with Georgia Tech opening the scoring in the second inning. Louisville trailed 1-0 until some awkward GT defense allowed the Cards to tie it in the fourth inning. Louisville went on to score three more runs in the inning and led 4-1 after 3.5 innings. They didn't look back. Louisville went on to win the game 10-1 to clinch the series. The Cards go for the sweep today at 1PM and then will look to win their eighth straight against Kentucky in the second leg of the Battle of the Bluegrass on Tuesday.

Lacrosse Hits the Road

After a frustrating loss to North Carolina last week, the Lax Cards have had a week to lick their wounds before heading out to take on another top twenty team. Louisville takes on the 15th ranked Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville in their last road game of the regular season. The Cards haven't been able to beat Virginia yet in their history, trailing in the series 2-0, but came close last year. Louisville lost the last matchup in Louisville 10-9 and will hope to finish the job with a big late season victory. Louisville has one more game on Thunder against Syracuse before the ACC Championship gets underway in Richmond, Virginia. Today's game gets underway at 1PM and is not listed as being available on ACCNE. Follow along with the women's lacrosse twitter page for updates.

Louisville Football Spring Game Today

I won't devote much time to this here, because there are tons of other sources to get your spring game previews and new player profiles and all sorts of other stuff. I encourage you to look into those sources, because those guys put a lot of effort into those previews and they know a lot more about what they're talking about than I do. I will, however, let you know that the spring game will get underway at 1PM in PJCS and admission is free. I'm out of town, or I'd probably head out there myself. The spring game is a great way to get a look at new faces, especially since Louisville will be implementing its new defensive schemes under new DC Peter Sirmon, and see how your favorite players (including Heisman winner Lamar Jackson) from last season have been developing. It should be a beautiful day so get out and support the Cards!

No broadcast for you! 

Today's Crescent Hill Easter Parade on Frankfort Avenue will be covered live and that bumps us off the air for THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. We recommend you listen to the parade coverage, it's Tara Bassett at her finest. We'll be back next week and HANDICAPPING HEROES will be on around noon or so.

Here's the link to hear the Parade and Handicapping Heroes:

LINK: www.crescenthilradio.com

Until next time, Go Cards.

-CH-