Softball Falls at Bama, Women's Golf in Moon Invitational -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

BAMA TAKES TWO FROM SOFTBALL CARDS 

The Louisville Softball squad began their 2021 season with a trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Sunday -- facing the #8 ranked Crimson Tide team in a double header. The Cards fell 5-0, 4-0 to Bama.  The teams played in 39 degree weather, for the opening pitch,  at Bama's Rhodes Stadium on campus. 

GAME ONE: 5-0 ALABAMA 

Taylor Roby drew the start for Louisville in the pitching circle and the Crimson Tide touched her for three first inning runs on four singles. In addition to Roby , the Cards starters were:  Celene Funke in center, Maddy Newman at second, Carmyn Greenwood in left, Taryn Weddle as the designated hitter, Cassady Greenwood behind the plate, Charley Butler in right, Madison Ciaccio at first, Sydney Bickel and Jenna Servi at third. 

Claire Jenkins' two RBI single made the score 3-0 after one.  Roby would go three innings for the Cards, allowing an additional run in the bottom of the third when Alabama scored on a groundout with a runner in scoring position. Roby faced 17 batters during her time in the circle, allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three.

Jen Leonhardt relieved Roby to start the fourth inning allowed a single to Elyssa Brown and then a double to lead off the inning by KB Soles that scored Brown, to make it 5-0. Leonhardt blanked the Crimson Tide the rest of the game, going three innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three, while facing 12 batters. 

The Cards managed just one hit against UofA hurler Montana Fouts, a Leonhardt single -- and Fouts struck out 11 Cardinals. 

GAME TWO:  ALABAMA  4 - LOUISVILLE 0 

Louisville started Leonhardt in the circle for game two, and didn't switch up the starters too much from the first game, putting Makayla Hurst at first base.  

The squads battled through 2-1/2 scoreless innings before' Bama got on the board in the bottom of the third, with a RBI ground out scoring Elyssa Brown .  Louisville head coach Holly Aprile brought in freshman pitcher Gabby Holloway to relieve in the fourth inning, after Leonhardt allowed a two-run homer and RBI single. Leonhardt finished her session allowing three runs on two hits, while walking two and facing 14 batters. 

Holloway gave the Cards three solid innings of pitching to close out the game, allowing just one run on three hits. Alabama had just five hits in the second game. 

Louisville had three hits in the second game, two of them by junior transfer from Utah, Hurst. The Cards did  have bases loaded opportunities to score in the third and fifth innings, but coild not push a run across the plate. 

Louisville is scheduled to play next in an ACC pod weekend, in Raleigh, NC -- where they'll face Virginia and the Wolfpack. 

WOMEN'S GOLF

The Louisville women's golf squad opened their 2021spring campaign hosting the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida yesterday and Hana Ryskova had a strong first round for the Cards, with a 3-under-par 69 at the Duran Golf Club. 

The Cards ended the day in 8th place out of 15 squads on the first day of the three-day event.  Lauren Hartlage finished with an even-par 72, Mairead Martin fired a 1-over-par 73 -- while Agustina Gomez-Cisterna carded a 76 and Margot Bechaderque ended with a 79. 

The Cards finished the day with a combined two-over-par 290, which puts them ten strokes back of first-round leader South Carolina. 

Play resumes today at 8:10 a.m. 

ACC WBB

Just three games in ACC WBB play yesterday: 

-- Wake Forest downed Clemson 72-65.  Ivana Raca led four Demon Deacons in double figures with 20 points. 

-- North Carolina got a win over Pitt 81-72. Center Janelle Bailey totaled 22 points and 10-11 free throw shooting for the Tar Heels. 

-- FSU won the battle of Florida yesterday, beating Miami 67-59. The Seminoles built a 35-21 first half lead and went on to improve their record to 8-5 overall, 7-5 in the ACC.  

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Have a safe Monday -- the snow is the story in Louisville today and the roads are already rough as of 9 a.m., with more on the way.Stay in if you can! 

paulie