Softball falls to Bisons 4-1...Regionals, Championships headed this way -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS FALL IN EIGHT TO LIPSCOMB

Lipscomb used three runs in the top of the eighth inning to bust wide open a tie game and Louisville loses the mid-week out-of-conference contest 4-1 to the Bisons. 

This one was a pitcher's duel through seven innings. The Cards did threaten early...in the first inning Jordan McNary singled, Nicole Pufahl walked and Maryssa Becker got hit by a pitch to load the bags full of Cards with just one out. Bison pitcher Mandy Jordan got out of the jam, though, by getting Megan Hensley to pop up to short and striking out Jenna Jordan. Becker allowed some early thunder in the circle when Peyton Ward went fence on her in the top of the second.  

Louisville (25-14) would get the equalizer in bottom of the fourth inning. Becker blasted a shot to center that barely missed not getting out and wound up with a double. Celene Funke came in to pinch run and Alison Szydlowski singled her home. The Cards left two in scoring position to end the inning. 

The Cards couldn't touch Lipscomb's Jordan after that...going down in order in the final four innings. Becker kept the visitors at bay through the seventh, allowing just one hit...but the eighth was costly. Becker loaded the bases with no outs and a pair of singles produced three runs for the Bison. 

Just three hits for the Cards in eight innings...after a weekend where the Cardinal bats exploded for 29 runs in three games. 

Louisville returns to action tonight when in-state rival Western Kentucky comes to town for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The ACC Network Extra will cover this one as well. They were quite tardy in picking up yesterday's action...the live feed didn't begin until the fourth inning and the audio an inning after that. 

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FIELD HOCKEY TO HOST 2018 FINAL FOUR

Great things happening down the road for UofL Athletics. 

Trager Stadium will be the host for the 2018 NCAA Field Hockey Championships. The Cards facility will be home for the Final Four from Nov 16-18, 2018. Louisville had previously been named as the host for next year's 2017 Final Four. It will be the sixth time that Trager has hosted the event...with 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011 the Cards have been the site to determine the National Field Hockey champion. 

A source close to the Field Hockey program commented: 

" This is a great addition to the already announced 2017 NCAA Championships being awarded to Louisville. A chance to showcase our campus, community and athletic programs and also a wonderful recruiting opportunity for the Field Hockey program. We look forward to hosting and hopefully being one of the four teams participating for the title." 

Four other regional events have also been booked at Cardinal facilities for the future.

The NCAA Division I events UofL will serve as host include:
Nov. 16-18, 2018	NCAA Women's Field Hockey National Championship at Trager Stadium
March 28 & 30, 2019	NCAA Men's Basketball South Regional at KFC Yum! Center
May 12-15, 2019	NCAA Men's Golf Regional at University of Louisville Golf Club
Nov. 13, 2020	NCAA Men's and Women's Cross Country Regional at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer   Park
May 10-12, 2021	NCAA Women's Golf Regional at University of Louisville Golf Club

Like the Hazel Miller song says at the end of weekly broadcast of THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR...Look what we can do, Louisville! 


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(THIS GREAT PHOTO OF THE UofL WBB Squad at the "Louie's" a few nights ago. 11 Cards in the shot...four missing. Can you tell who is missing and...does it mean anything?)

LOOKING GOOD, CARDS WBB! 


paulie
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