Louisville Softball in ACC Tournament...Lacrosse leaves for NCAA Tornament -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

I suppose we could call today's CARDINAL COUPLE edition the Tournament edition...with Softball already in Chapel Hill, NC and waiting to play NC State later today at 5 p.m. and Lacrosse on the way to University Park, PA to face James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon. We can even toss in women's golf...who finished their three day run in the NCAA Regionals...unfortunately not qualifying for the NCAA Championships. 

Here's what lies ahead for today and the weekend: 


SOFTBALL SET FOR A STATE SHOWDOWN


One of the few ACC Tournaments, it seems, that was not moved out of North Carolina is the ACC Softball Tournament. It starts today on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill at Anderson Stadium. The top eight teams in the ACC final ranking take the field today in quarterfinal action. #1 seed FSU faces #8 Virginia at 11 a.m. Following is #4 Boston College vs. #5 Notre Dame. At approximately 5 p.m. the #2 seed Cards will face #7 NC State and the nightcap features #3 North Carolina against #6 Syracuse. 

The tournament is a single-elimination format...with the semifinals taking place at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Friday and the Championship game Saturday at 2 p.m. The ACC Network Extra and RSN are listed as the televised media sources for the quarters and semis...ESPN will show the title match. In Louisville, RSN means Fox Sports South as a rule...so check there first if you're planning on watching. If the Cards win today, they would get the winner of the North Carolina vs. Syracuse contest and play at approximately 3:30 Friday.

The Cards ended the season facing their foe today and swept the N.C. State Wolfpack in a three-game series. Anderson Stadium will see the Cards for the second time this season...it was the site of the 2017 ACC/Big Ten Challenge...where the Cards beat Purdue twice and split with Ohio State. 

Louisville has five players hitting .300 or better. Nicole Pufahl leads the way with a .360 average. Maryssa Becker follows with a .338 average. Your obvious choice for governor...Jordan McNary 'slaps' in at .329...with Tiarra Sanabria (.319) and Morgan Meyer (.304) rounding out the five-some. Close behind, with averages of .290 or better are Alison "Mike" Szydlowski (.299), Megan Hensley (.295) and Jamie "New Pride of New Egypt" Soles at .293. 

A whole bunch of hitting, pitching, fielding and running headed your way...starting today...ACC style. Best of luck to the Cards...take the title! 


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LACROSSE OFF TO PENNSYLVANIA

The Louisville Lacrosse team departed from "the Little Yum" yesterday afternoon...with a send-off from fans and the UofL Pep band...to travel to University Park, PA...where they'll face James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament. 

We got the chance to speak with ACC Defender of the Year Brittany Read, ACC All-First team member Hannah Koloski and head coach Kellie Young shortly before they climbed on the bus and headed for the airport. We have those complete interviews below: 

BRITTANY READ

HANNAH KOLOSKI

KELLIE YOUNG

A new situation for the LaxGirls...in several aspects. First off, not having to face Northwestern in the first round. The Cards and Wildcats have faced up in the first round in the last three Louisville appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Also, the Cards will be in a new venue...Penn State's field...instead of on the Northwestern campus. 

Louisville looks to win their first-ever NCAA Tournament game tomorrow. Check back with us tomorrow to get the time and specifics of the broadcast stream. 

It's tournament time. Grab your popcorn, beverages and hunker down in front of your viewing device! 


paulie
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