Cards Fall in Lax and Softball -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Second Quarter Dooms Lax Cards

A rough day on Floyd Street for two Louisville women's sports squads Saturday

Louisville lacrosse couldn't overcome a porous second quarter as they fell to #4 Stanford 15-2. The loss drops the Cards to 5-7 on the year and 1-4 in the ACC.

It took less than two minutes for the Cards to score, but it would be their only lead of the game. Stanford would score a couple quick goals. Louisville would hold Stanford scoreless over the next eight minutes before another goal by the ACC newcomers right before the end of the period gave them a 3-1 lead. The second quarter was all Stanford as they outscored Louisville 8-0. The Cards trailed 11-1 at the break and were facing an uphill battle with a running clock.

The third quarter, while quick with the running clock, was rather uneventful. Stanford added a pair of goals to go up 13-1. Stanford added a couple more goals with a Louisville score sandwiched in the middle.

Lauren Figas and Reese Whiteman scored the two goals for the Cards, who were limited to just 18 shots on the day.

On the defensive end, J Pleck recorded nine saves with 15 goals allowed. She now has 107 saves on the year. Ashley Osborne recorded her 100th ground ball of the season. 

Louisville returns to action on Tuesday at noon when they host Liberty.

Softball Silenced Against Duke

Louisville softball's lone run came with two outs in the seventh inning in a 5-1 loss to #19 Duke. Duke takes the series lead 2-0 with the final game of the series slated for today at noon.

Duke was able to capitalize on a pair of Louisville defensive miscues to score a run in the top of the first inning. The Blue Devils were able to add another run in the third, but the damage was limited with multiple runners on base at the time. A solo home run and a pair of hits plated two more runs for Duke. They added an insurance run in the seventh for a strong 5-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, a double by Ally Alexander and walks by Maddi Grant and Madison Pickens loaded the bases with one out. Easton Lotus was able to send a ball deep to left center to drive in a run, but the rally came too late.

Alexander and Pickens combined for four of Louisville's six hits. The Cards left seven runners on base. Duke pieced together five runs on 10 hits but the Louisville defense stranded nine Duke runners on base.

Alyssa Zabala got the start in the circle but took the loss after allowing four hits and three runs. Sam Booe came in for the back half of the game and allowed six hits and two runs along with a pair of walks.

The Cards drop to 20-14.

WBB Elite Eight Set

UofL women's basketball at Lacrosse

The last of the Sweet Sixteen games were played yesterday and the NCAA Women's Elite Eight is set.

2-seed TCU and former Cardinal Hailey Van Lith took down 3-seed Notre Dame 71-62. The Irish had one of their worst offensive performances of the season .

1-seed Texas survived a scare against 5-seed Tennessee and won 67-59 in the battle of the orange teams.

2-seed UConn took down 3-seed Oklahoma and former Cardinal Payton Verhulst. Paige Bueckers went off for a career-high 40 points.

1-seed USC and former Cardinal assistant coach Beth Burns took down 5-seed Kansas State and former Cardinal Zyanna Walker 67-61 in a battle that came down to the final seconds.

Today's games feature 1-seed UCLA vs 3-seed LSU and 1-seed South Carolina vs 2-seed Duke.

(All photos today by Jared)

Happy Sunday and Go Cards!

Jared