Softball's Seventh Inning Spark -- Individual Awards -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

I may not be Paulie, but today is still Thursday.  Due to some traveling I was unable to write Friday's article so the boss man and I changed days.  In fact, I am writing this article Wednesday night with it set to publish Thursday morning.  By the time this article appears on our wonderful Cardinal Couple site I should be on a plane bound for Tallahassee.

Softball Ignites in Seventh Inning to Defeat Indiana

Louisville softball posted their fourth double-digit run total in six games as they took down Indiana 11-7.  Led by Sidney Melton's three RBIs the Cards capitalized on 14 hits and a whopping five errors by the Hoosiers.

Louisville got on top in the third when Nicole Pufahl's bases loaded sac fly drove in Sidney Melton.  They loaded the bases again the next inning and found more success, adding a trio of runs.  A passed ball scored Riley Schindler.  Melton's single drove in Blaire Bass and Celene Funke.

Indiana answered in the fifth when Maddie Westmoreland's two-run single cut the lead in half.  An RBI bunt added a run in the sixth for the Hoosiers.

The flood gates opened up in the seventh and the runs came pouring in for the Cards.  Nine hits and two errors resulted in a seven-run inning and a lead that extended to eight.  Because the eight-run mercy rule does not take effect until after a complete inning Indiana had one last chance.

A pair of walks and three hits helped Indiana put up four runs in the seventh, but their rally fell short as Louisville walked out of Andy Mohr Field with a victory.

Danielle Watson, back in the lineup after a mid-season injury, took the win to improve to 14-7.  Megan Hensley closed out the game for her third save this season.  Melton added another successful steal to her name while Funke did not register a stolen base attempt.

The Cards travel to Florida State for a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series.  You can catch my beautiful girlfriend and I in the crowd for the first two games.

Caroline Blalock Earns National Rookie of the Week Honors

After a solid outing against Virginia last weekend Caroline Blalock received forty percent of the votes on route to claim ILWomen National Rookie of the Week.  The freshman leads the Cards with 41 goals and nine hat tricks, as well as leading in seven other categories.

Blalock is one of "the sisters" on the UofL Campus for Louisville Lacrosse. Sarah, also a freshman, plays for the Cards and also starts.

Katie Walsh and Erin McCrudden Travel to Chile

Two of field hockey's biggest stars, junior Katie Walsh and recent alumna Erin McCrudden, were named to the USA Field Hockey National Development Squad.  They will compete in four games in Santiago, Chile in late May.

Louisville is near the end of their spring Field Hockey exhibitions and participated Saturday in the Michigan Hockeypalooza with matches against the UofM and Northwestern.

Asia Durr in the 3x3 Championships

As if she could ever get tired of basketball Asia Durr has found a way to stay busy this off-season. Louisville's leading scorer will be competing in the 2018 USA Basketball Women's 3x3 National Championships.

Some of the event's other participants are Kristine Anigwe (California), Napheesa Collier (Connecticut), and Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame).  They will compete April 21-22 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado....they're a part of 18 college atudent-athletes that will look to represent the USA .

Cardinal fans may remember a few years back when Sara Hammond did the same for the USA 3x3 squad.

Good luck "Nite-nite" and if you get teamed up with Arike, be sure to introduce yourself to her.

Happy National Humor Day! I got hit with a can of Coke the other day, but don't worry, it was a soft drink.

Enjoy your Thursday and Go Cards!

- Jared -