Golf Begins Championship -- Softball Awards -- Track and Field to Prelims -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Women's Golf Begins NCAA Championship Play Today

The big day has arrived and the Louisville women's golf team begins their first day of NCAA Championship play in Stillwater, Okla.  UofL is one of 24 schools competing for the trophy and is the sixth-lowest ranked team in the bunch.

The three-day first round event begins bright and early at 8:30 a.m., with the Cards teeing off precisely at 9:36 a.m., with the top 15 advancing to Monday.  Molly Skapik, Olivia Cason, Delaney Shah, Lauren Hartlage, and Kristin Engle will suit up for the Red and Black.

This is Louisville's second trip to the NCAA Championships.

The entire field (NCAA ranking) is listed below:

1. Alabama
2. Arkansas
3. UCLA
4. Duke
5. Stanford
6. USC
7. Furman
8. Texas
9. Arizona
10. Arizona State
12. Florida
13. Northwestern
15. Washington
16. Kent State
18. Wake Forest
19. Auburn
20. Oklahoma
21. Florida State
25. LOUISVILLE
26. Baylor
27. Virginia
28. Colorado
34. Ole Miss
38. Ohio State

*All times are EST

Ferguson and Hensley Earn Regional Honors

Megan Hensley continues to rake in awards.  She is joined by teammate Caitlin Ferguson in earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Southeast Region Honors.  Ferguson was named to the second team while Hensley made the third team.

Ferguson was named as a utility player after playing third base, shortstop, first base, and right field this year.  She finished with a .317 batting average, 40 RBIs, four home runs, 10 doubles, and scored 31 times.

Hensley has broken into Louisville's career Top Ten in several categories as a junior: RBIs (batting), home runs (batting), wins (pitching), saves (pitching), appearances (pitching), innings pitched (pitching), strikeouts (pitching), and complete games (pitching).


Track and Field Sends 23 to Prelims

Louisville is sending 23 athletes to compete in 24 categories in the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Rounds hosted by the University of South Florida from May 24-26.  The Cards will compete for a chance to head to the NCAA Championships held in Eugene, Ore. from June 6-9.

The women sent 11 athletes to compete in 12 events while the men sent 11 to compete in 11 events with a 12th competing in the decathlon, which is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships.  Makenli Forrest is the only Cardinal competing in multiple events- the hammer throw and discus throw.

Other News and Notes

Louisville baseball won in walk-off fashion against Notre Dame last night 5-4.  Game two of the series has been moved up to 2:00 p.m., today with the series finale set to begin Saturday at 1:00 p.m., shortly after the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour concludes.  I know they aren't a women's sport, but they are the last UofL team still playing at home.

The most hated woman in Louisville, Katina Powell, found herself in some trouble and is headed behind bars.  After causing the men's basketball team quite a bit of pain and stress it appears karma has caught up to her.

The Spring Cleaning Yard Sale hosted by Louisville Athletics is tomorrow from 9:00-2:00 on the south side of the football stadium up against Central Ave.  This giant tent sale is a great place to get all of that expensive Adidas Louisville gear for a fraction of the price.

Happy NASCAR Day, Bike to Work Day, and Pizza Party Day, Endangered Species Day!

You should be able to catch the entire "A-Team" in the studio tomorrow.  Between my Saturday banking and Case's injury and studying it seems as if we all haven't been together since shortly after Christmas.  Tune in to see what us four knuckleheads will be up to.

Happy Friday and Go Cards!

- Jared -