GAME TIME CHANGE FOR CARDS SOFTBALL FRIDAY VS KANSAS -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS VS KANSAS MOVED UP DUE TO WEATHER CONCERNS

A timely update from UofL Softball asst. SID Lori Korte Thursday night as I was preparing the article on the Cards NCAA first round game against Kansas that was scheduled for Friday 5 p.m.

Make that 1 p.m. now.

Inclement weather expected for Columbia, MO. Friday night necessitating the schedule change. Missouri and Indiana State will follow at 4 p.m.

Not a biggie...the Cards left Wednesday for the "Show me" state and are prepared to face the BIG 12 foe. 

Another question in coaching strategy...wondering if

Pearsall will send out Maryssa Becker or not Friday against 'Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk' in hopes of bettering the chances to advance to the winner's bracket in the regional. Shelby McCombs at the ready if chosen to go first...a double elimination format at hand and Louisville technically either the #2 or #3 seed in this regional.

Becker recently selected to the 2015 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division 1 All-Southeast Region third team. A nice honor for the All-ACC selection...she is 14-7 on the season and has a 2.22 ERA. She's also a force out of the circle...a team-leading 39 RBI's, 9 home runs and a .350 batting average. 

The Cards will need that bat and more tomorrow against the Jayhawks. Well-rested and determined to give seniors Duncan, Jones, Arion and Soles a few more games to perform as Cardinals...Louisville should find the Jayhawk pitching a relief in comparison to some of the circle-masters the Cards have faced this season. 

It'll be available on ESPN3 and UofL's softball twitter account also does a great job of providing updates.

KENNY LOVES LOUISVILLE

Had the opportunity to hear UofL Sports Information Director Kenny Klein speak Thursday night at the monthly meeting of the Sportsmen's Supper Club. Kenny's been on the job since August of 1983...coming to Louisville after a couple of years at Morehead. 

Three things to know about 'KK':

1) He loves Louisville and Louisville athletics. It's a love he shares with a lot of us.

2) He still drives the car every day that Rick Pitino gave him. As we know, Coach P. has a heart the size of Texas.

3) The NCAA Final Four is his favorite event. He's there every year working the media table and so is the UofL Stat crew. 

His enthusiasm and optimism for the school, his bosses and the athletic programs is as strong as it was when he arrived here. He's seen changes galore in the campus and in the community. 

Kenny, his seven assistant SID's and the staff, photographers and video folks keep us 'in the know' and allow us to enjoy the stories, sights and sounds of Cardinal Athletics by providing us a comprehensive overview of 'Cardinalology'

From Milt Wagner to Trez Harrell, from Jackie Spencer to Shoni Schimmel and from Denny Crum to Rick Pitino...Mr.
Klein and crew have seen it all and relay it to us.

We, here at CARDINAL COUPLE, find the SID department indispensable and valuable for what we do. They're just as big a part of the teams we enjoy as the players and coaches...because they provide us with knowledge...and we all know that knowledge is power. We thank Kenny and his hard-working associates. 
  
paulie
xxxxxa 

Cards split with Pitt -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

LOUISVILLE LOSES 2-1, WINS 12-0

While American Pharoah was trying on the garland of roses in the winner's circle Saturday at Churchill...Louisville softball was six hours away in Pittsburgh trying to fly past the Panthers in ACC Softball. Two strong pitching performances for the Cards on the day from Maryssa Becker and Shelby McCombs...but only one win at Vartabedian Field on the Pitt campus.

A bottom of the seventh inning, walk-off homer for Jenna Modic gave Pitt the 2-1 win in the first game. Maryssa Becker and Savannah King were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel for four inning before the Panthers broke through for a RBI fielders choice by Modic to make it a 1-0 Pitt advantage.

The Cards tied it in the top of the sixth when Brittany Duncan singled home pinch runner Morgan Meyer. The Cards had the bases loaded with one out when Whitney Arion drew a walk but couldn't push the go-ahead run over the plate. 

Modic ended it after Louisville was retired in order in the top of the seventh. Her one-out, 2-1 count blast to right field improved Pitt's record to 33-17 and 10-10 in the ACC. 

Game two featured two Becker fence clearers and four RBI's for the Cards...who jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third. Three Pitt errors and a passed ball...plus a two-RBI Hailey Smith single gave the Cards a nice cushion for McCombs, who was keeping the Panther bats at bay. 

Louisville added two runs in the sixth when Brittany Sims worked a base on balls and Becker sent Mr. Spalding on a trip over the right field fence.

The Cards added the final five runs in the top of the seventh. A three run homer from Sydney Benz and two run shot from Becker set the tally at 12-0. 

McCombs (9-5) allowed just two Panther hits in the shutout and struck out four. She retired the final seven she faced for her second complete game shutout of the season.

They'll play the rubber match today at noon. 

The win secured Louisville (29-16, 15-7) as the #4 seed in the ACC Tournament and they'll face #5 seed North Carolina State in first round action on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.  

NCAA LACROSSE SELECTION SHOW TONIGHT

Kellie Young's Lacrosse squad will learn their fate tonight at 9 p.m. when the 26 teams that will comprise of the 2015 NCAA women's Lacrosse Tournament are named and seeded.

The ACC hopes to get seven schools in...North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Boston College and Syracuse all look to be "locks"...the Cards and Notre Dame probables for inclusion. 

It is the NCAA, though...so you never really know. 

You can watch on the NCAA.com site to see if LAX heads to their second straight NCAA Tournament. 

paulie
xxxxx

Thoughts on Senior Day -- Tuesday Cardinal Couple

Thoughts on "Senior Day"

Sunday was Senior Day for UofL's Softball team.  As we near the end of the spring sports season, we see the traditional celebrations for each team's "graduating" "seniors".  I put air quotes around both words because the tradition of Senior Day is more a recognition of the end of a player's collegiate eligibility, or perhaps their expectation that they will no longer be involved with the team for some reason or another.

 Many players will have already graduated with an undergraduate degree and have already embarked on some graduate level courses, and occasionally, in extraordinary cases...I'm thinking of Tia Gibbs, as an example...will have achieved more than one degree.  Others, on the other hand, may be taking the next major step of their life before they finish a degree.  Whatever the case, its very possible that the athletes being honored are neither seniors, nor graduating.

I love the tradition of Senior Day, even if it does sometimes feel a bit scripted.  The young men and women that compete in collegiate athletics and are preparing to take the next major step of their lives should be honored.  Beyond the process of graduation, which may or may not roughly coincide with the completion of an athletes athletic eligibility or involvement with the program, whatever the cause, that next step should be honored.  Most of these young men and women have been actively pursuing the sport...or sports...of their choice since early childhood.

 Some may go on to pursue their sport at another school, perhaps by beginning a course of graduate study, while others may take the next step to professional athletics.  

Most, however, will see this as the end of high-level competitive play in a sport that has likely been a major part of the majority of their life.  For those men and women, to say that this is a life adjustment, is the understatement of the season.  Of course, the transition from college student to making a living in the wide world is an adjustment just on its own, but for student-athletes, the change is even more drastic.

Taking a few minutes, before one of the last home competitions of the season, to honor those seniors, to remember their contributions, to laugh at awkward pictures from their childhood displayed in all of their jumbotron glory, is more than a little bittersweet, but is an important observation of where they have come from. 

Taking a moment to reflect before taking the next big step forward is healthy, it puts the hard work and time spent in context.  Whether that moment of contemplation is more important to the athlete, or to the family and friends that have supported them, and yes even us, the fans, is a question that I don't have an answer for.

Softball honored four seniors before the double-header started on Sunday.  Two of  the seniors, Brittany Duncan and Kelsi Jones, transferred from other schools and were only able to play for the Cards for two years.  Their value, even in just two years, to the Cardinal Softball team can not be adequately described.  Whitney Arion and Kayla Soles, however, were with UofL Softball for four years, and, in addition to the value of their play on the field which is considerable, have provided continuity and have helped create the wonderful culture that exists on the softball team.

The activities of senior day do become somewhat scripted, I fear.  For the staff that works with these teams, and even to the fans, we see a similar staging in each sport, each season, but I hope that we can take those few moments as the athletes walk out, flanked by family or those who have taken on the role of family, to claim a framed jersey and bouquet of flowers and to have their picture taken with the coaches, to remember what this moment means to these players, to what it means for their life journey, and to remember that we all are part of supporting them...perhaps only a small part, but a part nonetheless...and helping them embark on their life as adults.

Paulie and I are blessed, in our work with Cardinal Couple, to get to know some of the young women of UofL athletics on something of a personal level, and I believe we are doubly blessed when those relationships...limited though they may be...continue on beyond the departure from the halls of academia and the sports facilities of Floyd Street and elsewhere.

To Brittany, Kelsi, Whitney, Kayla, and all of the other seniors of this year:  Its been a pleasure watching you play your sport for the past years, we wish you well in whatever the next step in your life is.

On a side note, UofL Softball quietly added something to the Senior Day festivities that I heartily approve of.  Just after the main ceremony was concluded one of the staff members went over to Boston College's dugout and gave bouquets of flowers to the Boston College seniors.  BC will honor these seniors in their own Senior Day festivities, of course, but I thought it was a nice touch to include the other team in the honors.  While I have seen this gesture made in other Senior Day ceremonies, its not a common occurrence.

Golf Going To South Bend

The NCAA selection for Golf occurred Monday evening, and UofL was selected as the 11th seed for the NCAA Regional being hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend.  The regional competition will be May 7th-9th at Warren Golf Course.  The top six teams and three individuals not associated with those six teams will advance to the NCAA championship which will be May 22-27 at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL.

jmca

Cards go 1-1 on Sunday -- Monday Cardinal Couple

DOUBLEHEADER DIVIDED AGAINST B.C.

Louisville Softball managed ten hits against Boston College pitcher Allison Frei in 13 innings yesterday but could only get one runner across the plate in a 1-0, 0-3 split yesterday at Ulmer Stadium.

If you like pitcher's duels, the Cardinal Softball complex on the corner of Floyd and Brandeis was the place to be.

The Cards...looking to stay in the running for a top three finish in the ACC Conference...got a strong performance from staff ace Maryssa Becker in the first game. The Oregon sophomore allowed just three Eagle hits and struck out five to improve her record to 13-5.

As she usually does, Becker helped her own cause at the bat. Jordan McNary, who went three for three in the first game, singled and scored in the bottom of the first. Becker drove her home with a single. The Cards added two more base runners in the inning but did not add to the 1-0 lead.

And that's how it ended...1-0.

In game two, Shelby McCombs took to the circle for Sandy Pearsall's squad and held B.C. in check until the top of third inning. An error, sacrifice bunt, fielder's choice and single gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead. A triple with two outs in the fourth helped Boston College (21-21, 4-14 ACC) push another run across the plate and they added a third score in the sixth inning with two singles and a two-base throwing error by Louisville.

The Cards threatened with runners in scoring position in the first, third and fifth innings but the scoreboard remained at 0 for the home team.

It was Senior Day at the ballpark and pre-game festivities honored Kelsi Jones, Kayla Soles, Brittany Duncan and Whitney Arion. Soles and Arion played all four years at Louisville. Duncan transferred in from Valparaiso after her junior year and Jones joined the Cards after two years at Missouri.

They were a part of 165 wins, two conference tournament titles and three NCAA appearances while wearing the Cardinals uniform.

-- Duncan...the powerful DH who smashed 10 home runs and drew 48 walks as a junior. Plagued by a thumb injury this season...she returned as a starter back on 4.21.15.

-- Soles, who did a bit of everything for the Cards after arriving from New Egypt, NJ...playing five different positions. A 2014 AAC second team selections as well.

-- Arion came in as a freshman and claimed the shortstop position and became the Cards leader in the infield. Always a threat at the plate and flawless on defense.

-- Jones, a transfer from Missouri who led the Cards at bat and handled all the outfield positions during her two years here. She currently leads the ACC in doubles and the Cards in batting average, steals and runs.

These four have a bit of playing to do, still, as they lead the Cards through the remainder of the regular season, conference tournament and, hopefully, an NCAA bid. Four student-athletes who made their mark at Louisville and will be missed after graduation.

The Cards were looking to gain ground yesterday on Notre Dame and UNC who are second and third in the ACC. Those two split in a couple of slugfests yesterday...UNC taking the first game 7-3 and the Irish responding win a 17-9 win in the second game. UNC ended a Notre Dame win streak that went back to March 17th by taking the first contest. UNC retains second behind Florida State with a 16-5 conference mark. Notre Dame sits at 17-6 and the Cards are 14-6.

Louisville returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game in Ulmer against in-state rival Western Ky.

paulie
xxxxx

Softball's first test starts today -- Friday Cardinal Couple

Six Returning Starters and a Youth Movement will test a challenging schedule

Freshman "Syd" joins
the Cardinal squad

The Louisville Softball team gets the season started today with a noon game against UC Davis in the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas. The Cards will also hit and pitch against host UNLV in a second game scheduled for around 6:45 p.m.

It's five games in three days for a team that will look to blend in the ingredients of six returning starters, nine freshmen and three new pitchers. One could say Sandy Pearsall and staff has had some interesting days as they prepare for 2015 ACC Softball and the demanding pre-conference schedule. 

And, it'd be an understatement.

Back for the Cards are:

Jay Miller will "coach 'em up" as an assistant.

- Hard-hitting (when they pitch to her) senior first-baseman Brittany Duncan. The Valpo transfer went .329 at bat last year, had 10 home runs and drew a team high 48 walks. Pitchers prefer to walk her, she led the team in RBI's despite that and has the returnee's highest slugging average

- Kelsi Jones...steady as a rock in the outfield, led the team in fence-clearers with 11...this senior transfer from Missouri will be looked to for leadership and production at the plate. Jones had more at-bats than any Cardinal last season and started all 58 games. 

- Kayla Soles. The pride of New Egypt, NJ is being asked to play yet another new position (second base) and the senior has embraced the opportunity to contribute. She sent Mr. Spalding to Brandeis Street nine times in 2014 with a .297 batting average.   

New and improved Ulmer Stadium is a delightful venue
for a fan to take in a ballgame.

- Whitney Arion returns at short and was 2014 All-AAC last year. Despite a slow start at the plate, she finished with a .274 batting average and has been the backbone of the infield since her freshman year. The senior will be essential to the Cardinal successes this season.

- Maryssa Becker may have been the most pleasant and unexpected surprise of the 2014 season. The freshman pitcher became to "go to" on the mound and complied a 13-7 record and team low 2.13 ERA. She's no slouch at bat either...producing a .310 batting average.

Also returning are outfielders Morgan Meyer, Jordan McNary, Brittany Sims...catcher and third baseman Kristina Dillard, and infielders Autumn McDuffie and Paige Alford. Meyer and McNary saw the most action of this six-pack but need to improve at the plate. Both are sophomores this season and the improvement curve should continue. 

We've also had impressive pre-season reports about red-shirt freshman Nicole Pufahl. Transfer from LSU Hailey Smith is an infielder that could give the Cards a boost. 

Madi Norman joins the
pitching staff

Pitching has gotten some attention and praise with three new hurlers and one returnee besides Becker. Shelby McCombs, Bridgette Flaherty and Madi Norman join the team and Tiarra Sanabria hopes to recover from injuries and be a solid contributor either on the mound or at first.

Which freshmen will step up? Who will emerge at catcher to replace the steady and spectacular graduates Marge Ruckenbrod and Taner Fowler? Can Katie Keller's .419 batting average be replaced?

All these questions...plus a new and more difficult conference alignment...await answers and results from Sandy Pearsall's squad. Staff changes and new foes will make it a season of guarded expectations and new challenges. 

The Cards were picked to finish fifth out of 11 in the ACC preseason poll. They have 20 pre-conference games...and just five of those at Ulmer...in a brutal, demanding and travel-laden start to a pivotal transition season. They'll spend a month on the road before the home opener against Illinois State on March 6th. 

Such is life in a city and program where February home games are risky business and subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Another reason we need a domed stadium. (President Ramsey got a big chuckle out of that Paulie proposal). 

As fans, we can help the Cards out by being there for home games. In addition to exciting softball action, you just might even see President Ramsey in "rally-cap" mode, Al Greener and the Pep Band or experience the laid-back scenario and view from the outfield berm. 

It all starts today in the desert sands of Nevada...a journey that will hopefully end up in Oklahoma City and a College World Series bid in May. 

paulie    

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Softball stumbles @ IU...Lacrosse today!

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Hoosier rock Softball Cards 8-3

- Lacrosse final home game today vs. Marquette



The University of Louisville softball team played their final non-conference game of the season at Bloomington, IN on Wednesday evening against the Indiana University Hoosiers and the results were less than desirable against the BIG 10 foe...Louisville falling 8-3 to IU.

A rocky start for the Cards...allowing three runs in the first inning...two more in the third and two in the fourth before plating three runs in the fifth to avoid the five inning, game ending rule.

Coach Pearsall used all four pitchers on the roster in the event but Caralisa Connell saw 0.1 innings of action before being replaced and the Hoosier batters teed off on Maryssa Becker, Rachel Le Coq and Tiarra Sanabria.

The Cards return home to host AAC foe Temple for three games this weekend...first pitch is Saturday @ noon.

The Cards need to take care of business to have any shot at contending for a conference title. Standings below:

                               Conference            Overall
     Team                   W   L   T   Pct       W   L   T   Pct
     UCF.................   9   3   0  .750      33  15   0  .688
     Houston.............  11   4   0  .733      28  15   0  .651
     Louisville..........   9   6   0  .600      28  17   0  .622
     USF.................   7   5   0  .583      33  13   0  .717
     Rutgers.............   5   7   0  .417      21  16   0  .568
     Temple..............   5   7   0  .417      15  20   0  .429
     Memphis.............   4  10   0  .286      20  26   0  .435
     UConn...............   3  11   0  .214      12  31   0  .279

Louisville also needs some losses by UCF, USF and Houston...plus a sweep of Memphis next weekend @ in Elvisville to be top-ranked for the AAC Conference tournament in Houston....which begins May 8th.

Maybe not the season we hoped for....Louisville pitching has been marginal at best despite two returning starters. A pleasant surprise from freshman Becker...but less than spectacular results in a conference that isn't all that strong.

If it wasn't for transfers Kelsi Jones and Brittany Duncan, one wonders if this team would actually be that close to the leaders in conference.

 Saturday’s games will honor the military and on Sunday, Louisville will honor seniors Caralisa Connell, Taner Fowler, Katie Keller, Hannah Kiyohara, Rachel LeCoq and Maggie Ruckenbrod.

*************************************************************************

Lacrosse puts their undefeated conference record on the line today against Marquette at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium at 4 p.m.

This should not be a problem for the Cards. Marquette is in their second season of Lacrosse and they are mired at the bottom of the BIG EAST conference standings with Cincinnati.

One can expect the scoring juggernaut of Boltja, Brust, Daley and Morissette to provide plenty of chances for Al Greenert and the pep band to play the Louisville Fight Song.

Hats off to one of my favorite Lacrosse player to interview....Faye Brust...for the award below:

April 22, 2014
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Faye Brust, Louisville, Jr., A
Brust registered a pair of five-goal games last week, beginning with a crucial showing against Connecticut on Thursday before duplicating the performance against Rutgers on Saturday. After the Huskies started off with a 1-0 lead, Brust provided the game-tying score before adding the go-ahead tally two minutes later as the Cardinals never lost their lead from that point forward. The junior’s five goals against the Scarlet Knights came on five shots. She also picked up a pair of ground balls last week as the Cardinals remained undefeated (6-0) in BIG EAST play to clinch the top seed in the upcoming Championship.

All the way, Faye !!! (or 'Fabian'...as some of the other Lacrosse players instructed me to call her Saturday)


Come out and support your University of Louisville lacrosse team today as they try to run the BIG EAST table !!

Louisville	6-0	1.000	98	43		12-3	.800	226	125
Georgetown	5-1	.833	77	47		8-7	.533	176	154
Connecticut	4-2	.667	72	59		9-6	.600	166	149
Villanova	3-3	.500	57	68		8-7	.533	144	149
Temple	3-3	.500	63	63		6-9	.400	139	164
Rutgers	2-4	.333	65	71		8-8	.500	132	162
Marquette	1-5	.167	51	62		5-10	.333	129	171
Cincinnati	0-6	.000	30	100		6-10	.375	131	207

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Thunder Over Ulmer. Cards sweep doubleheader vs. UConn

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Cards crash four home runs in 6-0, 9-1 wins

Almost 800,000 people gathered by the banks of the Ohio River to watch Thunder Over Louisville yesterday...the yearly fireworks extravaganza that symbolizes the start of the Derby Festival. On the UofL Belknap Campus, the Cardinal Softball team had their own display of thunder...smashing four home runs and putting up 15 runs in the whitewash of the Huskies.

Cards 6 - UConn 0

Louisville struck early in the opener...getting a run in the first when Kelsi Jones drew a walk, advanced to third on a steal and wild pitch and scored on a Katie Keller single.

The Cards lit up the scoreboard in the second with two over the fence efforts. After a Maryssa Becker walk, Taner Fowler unbuckled off the left field scoreboard. Hannah Kiyohara drew a base on balls and Jones returned to the plate to power one over the center field fence. It was 5-0 Cards after two.

UofL added a run in the fourth...Jones scoring her third run of the game when she singled, stole second and third and reached home on a double steal play that had Keller out at third.

Becker was her usual effective self inside the circle...going six innings and allowing just six hits while gathering six strikeouts. Tiarra Sanabria got an inning of relief in off the stripe..allowing two hits.





LOUISVILLE 9  - UCONN1

The Cards kept the fireworks going in the nightcap...closing out the Huskies by eight runs in five innings. A strong start in the second game as well, two runs crossing the plate...thanks to a Brittany Duncan double that nearly was a home run with Whitney Arion and Keller on base.

The Huskies got one across the plate in the visitor half of the third but Louisville answered with two runs in the inning...Kayla Soles bouncing one high off of the scoreboard with Keller on base. It was 4-1 Louisville after three.

UofL kept up the air show in the fourth...Fowler doubled, Kiyohara singled and a deep fly by Jones brought Fowler home. That set the stage for Whitney Arion's bombardment of Brandeis Street...her fifth homer of the year made it 7-1 Cards.

Louisville ended it in the fifth. Duncan drew a walk, Jordan McNary came in to run for her. Kayla Soles singled to set up a Becker single that scored McNary. Soles got the ninth run when she crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Rachel LeCoq with a strong outing in the finale...going five innings, allowing just two hits and getting 2 k's to go to 8-7 on the year.

They'll play the series-ender today at noon in Ulmer. It is
Softball's Pink Game. The team will be donned in special pink jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as well. The auction will go to support Live Strong in conjunction with the YMCA.


Good to see the softball team we have come to expect surface with two big wins. It was a nice aerial assault by Louisville Saturday...one that might have had the Blue Angels doing a flyover above the campus to see who was going to put one out next.

paulie

Wednesday Cardinal Couple - Softball beats the Redbirds, Boltja honored and 1 or 2?

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Duncan's big day leads Cards to 7-3 win

-Nikki Boltja named BIG EAST Lacrosse Player of Week

- #1 or #2? What's your point of view?


We've talked before here at the ol' Cardinal Couple about the long range hitting capabilities of the Louisville Softball team. Of how traffic on Brandeis and Floyd might need to keep a needful eye out when Pearsall's Pulverizers are playing at the Ulmer.

Brittany Duncan led credence to our conversations on Tuesday went she sent two out of the ballpark in Louisville's 7-3 win over Illinois State. Kelsi Jones also said goodbye to Mr. Spalding in the UofL win.

The Cards jumped on the Redbirds early in this one...five runs in the first. With two outs and Katie Keller and Maryssa Becker on base, Duncan sent one over the black chain link fence to make it 3-0 Cards. Maggie Ruckenbrod and Taner Fowler followed with doubles and Hannah Kiyohara added a single to give the Cards a sizeable lead after one.

Illinois State decided to make it interesting...with three runs off starter Rachel LeCoq in the third...but a solo shot from Jones in the fourth (her sixth of the year) and a bomber from Duncan in the fifth added to the winning margin for UofL.

Caralisa Connell finished for LeCoq and provided six strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

*             *            *             *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *             *

In her four years as a UofL Lacrosse attacker, Nikki Boltja has gained a conference and nationwide reputation as a hard worker and scorer.

The BIG EAST has named her Player of the Week for the second time this season based on her efforts against Ohio State and Notre Dame last week. Tricky Nikki had eight goals and two assists and moved to fourth on the all-time goals scored list at Louisville, her 152 career scores got her past Cardinal favorite Emily Dashiell (2008-11).

She leads the BIG EAST this season in goals per game (4.29) and is second nationally with 30 net-finders this season.

Kaylin Morissette, the Ontario sophomore with radar range as well, was named to the league's weekly honor roll for the third time time season. When it comes to draw controls, Kaylin is superb...with 118 career...which is already third best in school history.

Louisville will stay home this week. A scheduled game against Canisius for today in Buffalo has been cancelled due to expected rough weather. Louisville hosts Drexel Saturday at 1 p.m.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *         *

Now that the Cards only season in the AAC in women's basketball has come to an end, thoughts turn to the NCAA Tournament. Actually, we've been thinking about it for some time...with Louisville hosting a regional in a mere 17 days.

Where will the Cards be seeded? A #1 or #2 appears to be in the offing, according to those who track and pontificate about such things.

Two of the four #1 seeds are locked up with UConn and Notre Dame both undefeated on the season. There is much speculation on who will be awarded the other #1 seeds.

Stanford, Louisville, Tennessee and West Virginia are the names being bounced around the most. Our Cardinals have built an impressive resume for claiming one to the #1 seeds...just four losses, with three of them to the #1 team in the land.

Tennessee won the SEC Tournament and will merit consideration. Although they've lost a few more games than the Cards...they finished the season strong and have a stronger RPI than Louisville does.

Stanford was considered the front runner for one of the #1 seeds until their loss in the PAC tournament. They still look to be the best WBB team west of the Mississippi River to most...maybe something Kim Mulkey and Baylor would probably argue.

West Virginia has fared well in the BIG 12 and could also get a look. Losing to Baylor in the tournament  final, though...could hinder their chances at grabbing a #1 seed.

My thought? For #1 seeds, Louisville, UConn, Notre Dame and Stanford. Tennessee fans will howl about that...but send them to play in the Louisville regional and let them prove that they're better.

Does seeding really matter? The Cards were second best in the nation last year and weren't a #1 or #2 seed. UK has seemed to find their stride again and gets to play their first two at home. Will they end up in the Louisville regional?

UNC, Duke, Creighton, South Carolina...how will it all end up? We'll know on Selection Monday. Seems years away...

What's your take on the Cards? Who will the top four seeds be? And, can Notre Dame defeat the Huskies?  Give us your thoughts in the comments section.

paulie
...
..
.

Friday Cardinal Couple --Altered schedule for Softball

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Changes in the Cards softball visit to Jacksonville

-  Tell your statistics to shut up: UofL softball stats  

-  Shoni picks up another honor


Louisville softball is making their way to Jacksonville, FL for the Jacksonville University Tournament. In case you haven't heard...the southeast got slammed by an ice and snow storm that has caused travel nightmares and mucho inclement weather.

Louisville was scheduled to face the Missouri Tigers to open up today. UM has backed out of the event because of the slip-sliding away conditions. (Jacksonville itself is fine...with weather in the mid-fifties and temperatures rising). Getting there is the issue facing Louisville, Notre Dame and North Carolina...other participants in the three-day event besides the Dolphins.

So, here's the update (as of 7 p.m. Thursday night)

Louisville will play their first game Friday at 4 p.m. against Jacksonville. The Cards take on Notre Dame at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and North Carolina at noon. UofL will play Notre Dame again Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Dogsleds and parkas optional.

It's a good early season test for Pearsall's pulverizers. The #23 Cards are seeing two future ACC opponents and Jacksonville is no slouch...going 3-2 in the FIU Tournament last weekend with a win over DePaul and two wins against Maryland.

The Dolphins have a force in pitcher Victoria Brown, who went 2-0 in Miami and belted three home runs. She had six RBI's and her ERA was 0.00 with ten strike outs in 14 innings.

The Cards are 2-0 lifetime against JU. They knocked the Dolphins out of the water last year in this tournament 9-0.


We'll do a preview of UNC and Notre Dame in Saturday's CC.

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Hard-hitting Katie Keller has been named to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2014 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The senior second baseman has also been selected to the preseason All-AAC squad. So far this season, KK is batting .333 in five games...fourth best on the Cards squad.

Keller has six hits in 18 at bats...two of them doubles...and has scored four runs and driven in two. She's started all five games.

Newcomers are at the top of the UofL hitting stats. Missouri transfer Kelsi Jones is 7-16 (.438) with two home runs and has scored seven times. Freshman Jordan McNary follows at .400 and Valpo transfer Brittany Duncan gets show money at .364.

Hitting hasn't been much of a problem for UofL. Getting around the bases has...so far. Louisville is batting .252, which is about average...but has only managed to score 19 runs on 34 hits and 20 walks. That's still seven runs better than the opposition...but slightly less that four runs per game.

Three pitchers have thrown out of the circle so far. Caralisa Connell sports an impressive 0.93 ERA, Rachel LeCoq with a 2.84 earned run average and freshman Marissa Becker checking in with 3.15. The hurlers do have 35 strikeouts combined...Cardinal batters have walked back to the dugout on K's 21 times.

Good luck Cards in J'Ville and show the ACC what's on tap for them!

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Awards and noninations for Shoni Schimmel seem to be as commonplace as varieties of green beans in the canned goods aisle of the grocery store....but the Umatilla Thrilla has picked up another one. Here's the release on the latest:

Senior guard Shoni Schimmel was named one of the Top 30 midseason candidates for the Women's Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T. Schimmel joins four UConn players, giving the American Athletic Conference five players on the list. Schimmel was also named to the Wooden Midseason list in January.

The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is awarded annually to the men's and women's college basketball players of the year. The voting academy bases its criteria on player performance throughout the season. The Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors narrowed the 50 pre-season watch list down to a midseason team comprised of 30 candidates. From there, four finalists will be selected to the final ballot in March. The Naismith Award winner will be announced on April 7, 2014.

Schimmel was named to the preseason list after being a key player in the Cardinals' success last season. She was named the Most Outstanding Player for the Oklahoma City Regional. She also earned WBCA All-Region honors and first team All-BIG EAST honors.

This season Schimmel is leading the Cardinals in scoring with 17.7 points per game. She also leads the Cardinals in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 38.8 percent. She ranks fourth in the conference in scoring. She leads the conference and ranks second in the nation in three-point field goals made with 3.5 per game. She currently ranks second on Louisville's all-time scoring list with 1,971 points.

Needless to say, we approve of this message and have just one more request for #23...help get this group of Birds a National Championship trophy that Coach Walz can sit in his office next to his jar of Geno's spaghetti sauce.   

paulie
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