(photos by Jared Anderson)
Softball Wins in Cardinal Classic
CMU
Home opening weekend for Louisville Softball is going well so far. The Cards are hosting the Cardinal Classic, bringing in Longwood, Central Michigan, and Northwestern for multiple games over the course of the weekend.
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| Chelsea Mack stealing 2nd |
The Cards got their start to the Classic at 12:30 yesterday, in the second game of the day at Ulmer. Central Michigan had beaten Northwestern to start the day, and the Cards would get their chance at the Central Michigan Chippewas, taking them down 8-1. Northwestern and Longwood played the 3rd game of the day, and the Cards took on Longwood for the last game of the day, getting the job done in four and a half innings, 8-0.
Versus CMU, the northerners got their one run across in the first inning, and the Cards didn't get started until the third, and they did it with small ball. Chelsea Mack got on to lead off the inning with a single, but three straight bunts at the plate advanced her the rest of the way around the basepaths.
In the next inning, Maddi Grant singled out to right field, but didn't get a chance to steal second as Ally Alexander got hit by the 2nd pitch of her at bat. Easton Lotus then drew a walk, filling up the bases. A fly ball out to right let Grant get home, and Alexander move over to third. With 2nd base now empty, Lotus added yet another stolen base to her stat column. Bri Despines got hit by a pitch to fill the bases up again. CMU brought in a new pitcher and she promptly walked Char Lorenz bringing Alexander home. With the score 3-1, on to the 5th inning we go.
Ava Venturelli got things started with a line shot out to center field and then was replaced on the basepaths by Jordan Williams. A ground out moved Williams to 2nd and scored on a Maddi Grant single. Grant advanced to 2nd on an Alexander single, and the bases again filled thanks to an Easton Lotus single. Chelsea Mack singled bringing Grant home for the second plate touch of the inning and leaving the bases still loaded. Char Lorenz absolutely ripped a ball to the left center fence, legging out a triple and scoring all three that were on base. With five across, the Cards reached their final score of 8 over CMU's 1.
A nice moment in this one, between Louisville's lead-off batter Easton Lotus, and CMU's lead-off batter Emma Lotus. Yes, they are related, sisters in fact.
Longwood
The Cards would get a break, (and your scribe would get a strained calf crossing Floyd Street to get a Starbucks latte) and return for the last game of the day, a quick 8-0 win in four and a half innings over Longwood.
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| Ava Venturelli trots home for her 3 run homerun | |
The Cards would jump on Longwood early, but not from the first bat. With two quick outs, Bri Despines drew a walk, and yes, you know the drill, stole 2nd. Char Lorenz came up next and singled to center, getting the speedy Despines home. Oh yeah, then Lorenz stole 2nd. Madison Pickens drew a walk, getting two on board. Ava Venturelli then lifted one out to left center (helped, no doubt, by a stiff wind blowing out to left), finishing the four runs for the inning.
Moving forward to the 3rd inning, Char Lorenz led off the inning putting the yellow orb on the berm straight away to center. Madison Pickens drew a walk, and then stole 2nd, and a throwing error let her snatch 3rd as well. An Ava Venturelli single scored Pickens, making the tally two for the 3rd inning, and the overall score 6-0.
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| Alyssa Zabala in the circle against Longwood |
The Lancers need a run to keep the game going in the top of the 5th but were unable to make it happen, resulting in the Cards 8-0 win.
Louisville will be back in action for more of the Cardinal Classic, starting with CMU again at 12:30, and Northwestern at 5:30. Again there will be other games going on out at Ulmer, an early one before the CMU game, and one between the CMU and Northwestern games. Both games today will be available on ACC Network Extra streaming.
Jared was able to get post-game comments from Ava Venturelli and Char Lorenz
Ava Venturelli:
Ava Venturelli:
Char Lorenz:
Lacrosse
We're not going to dive too deep into this one as the Cards welcomed the number 2 team in country to Floyd Street. North Carolina came in like a wrecking ball, going away, easily, with the win 20-4.
The Tarheels got out to a quick lead, 6-0 in the first seven minutes of play, and would tack on another couple to make it 8-1 at the end of the first quarter.
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| There weren't too many celebrations like this, but Lauren Figas gets this one |
The Cards showed a bit of stiffening in the 2nd quarter, only allowing a pair of UNC goals, but also not scoring any of their own, leading to a 10-1 halftime score.
Louisville would go on to get outscored in every quarter, 6-1 in the 3rd, and 4-2 in the 4th as UNC rolled to the 20-4 victory.
The Cards will lick their wounds for a few days and then head down to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt on Wednesday. ESPN+ has the video for this one.
Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast
It looks like we've got a trio lined up for the CCRHP today. Daryl, Paul, and myself have confirmed to be on the call.
I would imagine we'll talk about Basketball, and hopefully some Softball.
You can catch it live at:
or check back in later today or tomorrow at your favorite podcast directory.
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JMcA
