(Jeff is filling in for Case on the write-up today)
Softball Sizzles
Quite a change of fortune for the Cards in the opening game of the weekend series vs Syracuse compared to the outing against Kentucky. UofL gets it done in four and a half innings with the run-rule 8-0 win.
The Cards got the bats going early. The first three batters for the Cards in the game all made good contact with the ball. Unfortunately, Carmyn Greenwood's contact was caught for an out, but Korbe Otis followed it up with a double down the left field line. Taylor Roby lit off the fireworks, though. A seemingly casual swing saw the yellow orb hit the Brandeis Avenue sidewalk on a fly, easily bouncing into the street for the two run homer.
It has been a while since we've admonished people to be alert when driving on Brandeis, or Floyd for that matter, next to Ulmer when there's a game in progress.
The rest of the scoring for the Cards came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kendall Smith lead off with a single to left field, and was promptly lifted for the quicker Mia Forsythe. With an extra boost of speed on base, Forsythe steals second on a Vanessa Miller at bat. Forsythe scored and Miller was able to reach on a Syracuse miscue. Miller also steals second, though the benefit was mooted as Hannah File drew a walk.
Ally Alexander put down an absolutely textbook squeeze bunt, and then beat out the throw to load the bases up for UofL. Jenna Servi singled with the ball squeezing between first and second, scoring Miller and File. Finally, Carmyn Greenwood wasn't going to let Taylor Roby have all the fun and lifts the ball to the berm straight away to the center field berm, of course scoring Alexander and Servi in the process. That makes it a six run bottom of the fourth.
Taylor Roby finished the complete game run-rule win with just her 53rd pitch of the game. Credit UofL's defense for backing up Roby to get that efficiency.
The series will continue today at 1pm on ACC Network Extra.
SOFTBALL PHOTOS FROM JARED 'SELFIE' ANDERSON
Lacrosse in Syracuse
Also in action today will be Lacrosse with a noon start. They also are playing Syracuse, but in this case, they are in upstate New York for the game.
The Cards are looking for some traction in ACC play against the 11-3, 5-1 Orange. The Cards would also like to get another win to hopefully improve their draw in the ACC tournament. Seeds eight and nine in the tournament will play on Wednesday the 27th before the rest of the conference gets started on Friday the 29th. The Cards are currently listed ahead of Pitt and Notre Dame, but the final game of the season in Notre Dame here in Louisville, so that could prove to be pivotal. A win today might, depending on what other teams do, take some of that pressure off.
As is typical, this one is available on ACC Network Extra as well.
Transfers In and Out
Basketball
In 33 minutes of play on January 27th, Morgan Jones led Florida State in scoring 28 points against UofL Women's Basketball. Now the grad transfer will suit up for a year in a UofL uniform to help fill the Kianna Smith, Emily Engstler, Chelsie Hall shaped void.
Jones is a 1,000 point scorer, twice All-American Honorable Mention, as well as All-ACC First Team twice.
Jones is a 6'2" guard out of Jonesboro, GA and averaged 13.8 points per game, all inside the three point arc. She is a good defender, leading the Seminoles this season with 33 steals, and was only a single block behind Makayla Timpson's 31 blocks (along with Valencia Myers) for the season. She also lead the team in rebounds with 39 offensive, and 131 defensive boards.
Will we see more transfers join the team for the coming year? It's certainly a real possibility, so stay tuned.
Ramani Parker lands at Mississippi State with Sam Purcell and we'll see what she's got in the very challenging world of SEC Hoops.
Volleyball
Brooke Smith has decided to depart the UofL Volleyball program and will join the University of Dayton to start her Junior year. Smith is a 6'2" outside hitter and was expected to be behind Claire Chaussee, Anna DeBeer, and probably Nena Mbonu in the lineup for that position, so there's a good chance this transfer is an opportunity for her to get some more playing time.
Dayton only has two outside hitters listed on their roster and no right sides listed, so this is a good opportunity for Smith to jump into an immediate starting position on either pin on an up and coming team. She'll join former UofL Assistant Coach Alyssa D'Errico with the Flyers program.
Despite having been announced as joining the Dayton roster yesterday, she spent the day with the UofL team playing in the final day of the spring schedule in Beach Volleyball at Morehead State. She played in the first match of the day paired with Elle Glock and saw some of the best success for UofL against MSU on the day. Smith/Glock lost the match 17-21, 21-16, 13-15
Morehead State swept the Cards in both matches in the day, winning 5 courts to none in both. MSU fields an official beach volleyball team and this does count as an official result for them, despite Louisville not fielding an official beach volleyball team and playing this as an exhibition for the indoor team. This wraps up spring play for the Cards, and barring any other transfer news, the next news for volleyball will likely be schedule announcements over the summer.
Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast
Case and Daryl are unable to be on the call today, but Jared, and Paulie will be on the podcast, and I will be returning from several weeks of absence and am looking forward to it. I would expect discussions of spring sports in action, of course, with Softball and Lacrosse being the primary ones. I'm sure we'll take some time to remember, now with a smile, how well Morgan Jones did against us in January, and I'm sure there will be other tomfoolery afoot.
Check it out on the Cardinal Couple Youtube channel where the live stream will be available:
JMcA
Jones is a great pickup. I'm not a big fan of what has become free agency in WBB, but that's the way the game is played now and Walz plays it well.
ReplyDeleteJust saw on ESPN that Shoni Schimmel has been indicted on federal domestic violence charges. So sorry to hear that. She and Jude were such role models for Native American girls.
Indeed, unfortunate. Last I've checked in on what's up with Jude, she still is quite a positive role model.
DeleteI'm NOT a fan of one year players, but, that's where we're at now, and Jones is a good pickup. Taller guard than we're used to having, and, another former "Card killer" now on the squad.
ReplyDelete