Softball Wins Game One and Upcoming Events -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Softball Scores Early and Often vs UNC

Louisville brought in the Tarheels for a weekend series, and I'm sure the team from southeast of here wasn't thrilled to arrive in mid-40s and wintry precipitation. The teams braved the weather for game one last night and they'll take the field again today and tomorrow, as long as rain doesn't make it unplayable. The Cards were a bit more prepared for the weather and a bit more rested after Wednesday's game against UK was postponed. That led them to a 9-4 win with offense coming from up and down the lineup.

Louisville fell behind to an unearned run in the first inning after an errant throw from third resulted in a three base error. A groundout scored the run, and the Cards trailed 1-0. The early misfortune didn't get them too out of sorts, though, as they turned around and took the lead after a full-count walk to Carmyn Greenwood was rewarded by a two-run bomb to Taylor Roby. Roby, as the starting pitcher, was probably more than happy to get herself off the hook for the unearned run.

The Cards would not relinquish the lead, as they held the Heels to just a single in the top of the second before extending their margin in the bottom half. Louisville used two doubles, a walk, a wild pitch, a single, and a sac fly to score four in the inning, led by Greenwood's two-run double. I should mention that Ally Alexander stole third in the midst of all of that, but it wasn't super relevant since Greenwood's double scored Jenna Servi from first behind her, so the extra 60 feet didn't make much difference.

It wasn't the smoothest of sailing for Louisville from there, as UNC wasn't quite ready to give up. The third inning saw a two-run double out of the Heels as well to cut the lead back to 6-3 before both teams' bats went cold briefly. The Cards came back in the bottom of the 4th with a two-out rally. After a fly-out and a strikeout opened the frame, Roby stepped in and knocked a double to right field. A pinch runner was brought on to up the odds of a run being scored, but Kendall Smith made the runner moot with a two-run blast to extend Louisville's lead back to five.

UNC got one back in the top of the fifth, but the Cards answered immediately to set the final score at 9-4. Taylor Roby had to walk a couple of tight ropes, stranding three UNC runners over the final two innings to wrap up her complete game win. Louisville also threatened in the bottom of the sixth, but left two on base. They, of course, didn't bat in the bottom of the seventh.

Roby's complete game was not the prettiest, finishing with three earned runs and only four strikeouts, but it was worlds better than her counterpart. Hannah George allowed two runs in the first inning before facing four batters in the second inning. She was pulled before securing an out, and all four runners scored. Not ideal. A complete game also relieves pressure on the rest of the team's pitching staff, and to do it in just 104 pitches is a relatively low number in softball. 

The teams will take the field again today at 3PM, which you can watch on the ACC Network Extra. If the Cards can put together a sweep, they'll move to 22-15 on the season and claw their way back to .500 in conference. There is a fair bit of softball left to be played, but Louisville will have work to do if they want to make the NCAA tournament. Of their four series remaining, only Syracuse is behind them in the ACC standings.

Other Events

Speaking of the remainder of the season for softball, the Cards have one more game remaining than they expected to at this point, after the game against UK was postponed earlier this week. That game has been announced for 6PM on Tuesday, April 12th. No word on if it will be on ESPNU, as the original was supposed to be, but it may be irrelevant as Tuesday is currently forecasted for a 57% chance of thunderstorms.

Another outdoor sport that gets to avoid the April snow (ew) is lacrosse. Scott Teeter and Company are up in Pittsburgh, where they aren't getting flakes but it is still in the mid-40s and raining. Louisville Lacrosse is on a three-game road swing, though they'll surely come home in between. After today's game against Pitt, the team is back on the road in upstate New York to take on Syracuse on Saturday the 16th and Niagara on the 18th. Louisville will wrap up their season on Saturday the 23rd against Notre Dame. At 6-7 overall right now, Louisville probably needs to win all four of these remaining games to have a crack at the NCAA tournament.

Volleyball continues their spring training today. Currently ongoing is the annual KIVA College Showcase. Our man Jeff is there, as always, and he reports that Sydni Schetnan has returned to the team as her duties with the basketball team have concluded and she is ready to play today. After the KIVA event wraps up this afternoon, the Cards will head over to Cardinal Arena where they will host the Volunteers of Tennessee at 6PM this evening. The team's final spring event is scheduled for next Friday, where they're set to take on Morehead State... in Beach Volleyball. An interesting wrinkle, so we'll see if we can get any more information after that one is played.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

We're without Jeff today, as he's at the aforementioned KIVA event, and Daryl, as the Bats have a 1:05 scheduled start. Paulie, Jared, and I will endeavor to bring you the best show we can as we turn fully from the close of basketball season to the heart of the spring sports calendar. We'll talk all the games that were and weren't as we bring you the joy and excitement of Louisville Women's Athletics. Without Jeff for the third week in a row, we'll be without the live stream, but we'll get the show started at around 11, like normal, so the show will be up before 1. There are plenty of playback options, so be sure to check out whichever is best for you. And be sure to subscribe to the Cardinal Couple YouTube channel for past and future shows and various interviews throughout the year!

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Until next time, Go Cards!

Case