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 -- Huskies get Geno his ninth...Wild Finish in Softball

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- UConn 79 - Notre Dame 58 in NCAA WBB Final

- Softball goes to extra innings in 4-3 win

- Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em final totals

Geno Auriemma passed Tennessee Pat in career NCAA WBB titles by picking up his ninth last night in UConn's domination over Notre Dame in the NCAA WBB Championship game in Nashville, TN. At least it'll bring an end to that song that Connie Briton keeps singing about the 'only way she knows'

Mute button creator, I salute you.

Oh, to have the powerful duo of Stewie and Stefanie in your paint.

And that's what this one was about. Just like 39 opponents before them, Notre Dame had no answer when it came to shutting down the UConn paint-dwellers. Breanna Stewart had 21 points and Stefanie Dolson added 17 for the Huskies.

Hey, maybe they can buy those surplus 40-0 t-shirts that UK had printed early in the season...

Chris Dailey smacks herself in the
forehead. I have no idea why...

Yes, UND missed Natalie Achonwa. Yes, they made a brief first half rally to keep it interesting for awhile. UConn led 45-38 at the half, though and outscored the Irish 18-4 to start the final twenty minutes. Stewie and Stef had 10 of those. It was time to toss water on the campfire, call in the dogs and head it back in to the city.

Geno was quite emotional after the win, breaking down in his post game interview with our favorite ESPN sideline reporter...Hustlin' Holly...who wears blue in the KFC YUM! Center and sprints in high heels.

He had reason to be. He had the best "4" and "5" ...by far... in women's college basketball this season. Maybe of all time. Stef goes on to the WNBA or whaever the Stef Dolson's of the world do after graduation and Geno gets Stewie back to team up with Morgan Tuck, Kiah Stokes or one particular fabulous, fearless #1 ranked high school All-American/soon-to-be college freshman who hasn't declared yet...but is 6'5", from South Carolina and named after my favorite Steely Dan CD.

Louisville, Stanford, Notre Dame...all gave it their best shot. The truth is...BYU probably gave the Irish their biggest scare of the season. Connecticut can now claim to be the reigning king and championship center of college basketball.

Wait till next year. With a healthy Shawnta and Sherrone... plus returning Sara, "E" and Cortnee...the UofL paint game will be formidible.

Could this six-pack (if you toss Myshia Hines-Allen in there) be UConn formidible? Nah, probably not...but still powerful.


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A wild finish to Louisville softball last night at Ulmer...the Cards going eight innings to knock off Evansville 4-3.

Louisville won a game without Maryssa Becker pitching.

Impressive.

It was Rachel LeCoq on the mound for 7.2 innings to get the win. She was cruising along with a shutout going into the top of the seventh and had a three-run cushion to work with. The UofL scoring started with Katie Keller doubling and scoring in the third inning and Taner Fowler producing a two-RBI single in the sixth.

Evansville wasn't ready to get on the bus and travel 1-64 West just yet, though.

With two outs in the inning and a runner on, the Purple Aces got a single and two doubles to tie the game. Exit LeCoq and enter Caralisa Connell...who got the third out.

This is NOT Paige Alford running around the bases...
just in case you had any doubts.

They do extra innings in women's softball with scoring runs the main objective. The first batter of an inning automatically goes to second base. Evansville couldn't get theirs to the plate...Rachel LeCoq back on the mound for the Cards. Louisville stuck speed merchant Paige Alford on the middle bag to start the bottom of the eighth inning, Tierra Sanabria went to the plate...watched Alford advance to third on a wild pitch...and then poked the game-winning hit to left field.

Louisville goes to 24-15 with the win and has won their last four in a row. They stay in Ulmer for the weekend and host the UConn Huskies (no, not Stewie and her bunch) for a three-game, American Athletic Conference showdown beginning Saturday, April 12th. at noon.

Hopefully the Cards will tap into the energy of Thunder Over Louisville...which will occur later Saturday night...and play 'powerball' against the UConn hurlers. The weather looks great for the weekend, why not head out to the ol' ballpark after listening to Cardinal Couple Radio Hour at 11 a.m. Saturday and before trekking down to the Ohio River.

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With the final game played last night, we have a winner in the Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em Contest and congratulations to ...me.

I ended at 49-14...barely surviving the ending charge from several worthy opponents. Tying for second was the real Joe Hill from Naples, FLA and New Albany juggernaunt Curtis Franklin at 48-15. A two-way tie for third...the mysterious Charlyse and our Lexington buddy Blue Lou with 47-16 totals. The rest of the field:

46-17      Gary W.
46-17      Kenny S.
46-17      Sonja
44-19      David Watson
44-19      Viv Mc
42-21      Worldwide Jeff
40-23      Willie Cat Fan
37-26      Jennifer B
36-27      A Cardinal Chimp
29-34      The Other One
27-36      Matthew Mitchell for Governor

It was great fun and we'll do it again next year. Since I already have a Cardinal Couple T-Shirt...I'm sending one to Curtis for his second place finish. Joe has already purchased two with a donation to the website/radio show.

We still have some shirts.

M,L, XL and XXL available. With a $12 donation to Cardinal Couple via PayPal or personal check, you can have one, too.

Don't be shy, step right up and get yours. It's a very comfortable heavy cotton shirt that would look great on you this summer. And, you're helping a non-profit LLC meet the costs of producing a website, radio show and general mayhem. You know you'd look darn good in one...why wait?

Send those checks to:

Cardinal Couple
PO Box 91521
Louisville, KY   40291

and indicate what size you want. Or click the Pay-Pal donation link on the Right Side of the Site.  

We thank you.

paulie
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Softball win, Lacrosse loses to UConn

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Softball stymies Huskies 4-1

-Lacrosse falls in overtime to Huskies 12-11

Both the Louisville Lacrosse and Louisville Softball teams were engaged with Huskies on the field Sunday...Kellie Young's girls in Storrs...armed with crosses and Sandy Pearsall's squad at Ulmer Stadium swinging the bats.

LOUISVILLE 4 - UCONN 1

The Cards jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, Katie Keller drawing a walk, moving to second on a Jordy Trimble sacrifice bunt and scoring on Alicja Wolny's single.

Louisville added two runs in the second. Hannah Kiyohara got a base on balls, advanced to second on a Jasmine Smithson-Willett bunt and scored on Katelyn Mann's single. Mann reached home plate when Keller doubled. 3-0 The 'Ville!

UConn threatened in the fourth with a run. Starter Rachel LeCoq had given way to Caralisa Connell, who got out of a potential bases full dilemma by getting a strike out with two outs.

Louisville added a fifth-inning insurance run when Keller poked her second double of the game and greeted her teammates at home when Trimble singled.

CARDS WIN! 4-1

Connell got the win for the 37-6, 10-1 Cards. They face Pittsburgh next...a noon start Wednesday at Ulmer.

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CONNECTICUT 12 - LOUISVILLE 11


Lacrosse took their fifth BIG EAST loss of the season to the Huskies in overtime Sunday at Storrs. Louisville led 11-8 with 4:20 left in regulation...but allowed the Huskies to tie and force an overtime.

Kellie Young's squad took and early 1-0 lead when Nikki Boltja scored the first of her six goals at the 28:31 mark. UConn responded with two scores but Erika Eipp and Laura Patterson responded with goals to put Louisville ahead 3-2 with 20 minutes left in the first half.

After seeing UConn tie it, Nikki Boltja took matters into her own cross stick, scoring three goals on free position shots over the next seven minutes to provide Louisville with a 6-3 halftime advantage.

The Huskies started the final half strong and ran off four straight scores...Lauren Kahn flipping in the go-ahead tally with 21:43 remaining in the game to make it 7-6 UConn. The Cards roared right back, though...Boltja scoring to tie, Kay Morissette giving UofL the lead and Boltja making it 9-7 Louisville with 17:05 to go.

The Huskies climbed within one before Louisville went on a 2-0 run. Faye Brust found the net with 8:10 left and Colleen O'Malley's net-finder had Louisville ahead 11-8 with 4:28 on the clock.

Louisville's defense couldn't seal the deal, though...UConn scored three goals to tie...the final coming as time expired in regulation from Morgan O'Reilly.

UConn produced the game winner with 15 seconds left in overtime when O'Reilly found Kacey Pippitt with a pass and Pippitt found the net to put the Huskies ahead 12-11.

Louisville (8-6, 0-5) starts a home-stand on Saturday April 20th., when Cincinnati comes to the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium.

-Paulie


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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Lacrosse falls to Syracuse...Softball DoubleHeader Today!

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Lacrosse falls to Syracuse 19-7

-Boltja nominated for national award

-Softball faces UConn today and tomorrow at Ulmer

-CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO TODAY!


Louisville Lacrosse began their two game road trip yesterday with a loss to Syracuse 19-7. We had no doubts that the BIG EAST Conference play would be tough and Louisville ran into a tough Orange squad Friday night.

The Orange jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Cards before Laura Patterson found the net midway through the first half. Louisville just couldn't find any success against the staunch Syracuse defense and trailed 12-3 at the half.

The second half was a little more competitive for Kellie Young's squad...scoring four goals and limiting 'Cuse to just five. Nikki Boltja scored two  of her team-leading three goals in the final thirty minutes. Carissa Corbett, Monica Negron and Kay Morissette each had one goal for the Cards.

Louisville travels to UConn for a Sunday matchup next.

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Junior Nikki Boltja has been nominated for the prestigious Tewaarton Award watch list in lacrosse. She is one of 25 players on the list.

She is the leading scorer for the Cards this season and is the first Louisville player to make the list for Lacrosse's best.

NIce work, Nikki! Keep flippin' them in the big net!

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Softball is at Ulmer today with a double-header against Connecticut. First pitch is at noon.

The Cards (34-6, 7-1) are on quite a roll lately...winning their last seven in a row and 18 of their last 19 games.

UConn (16-16, 3-5) will also be in town Sunday for the final game in the series...in case you miss today's action because of the Spring Football game at PJCS.

Hannah Kiyohara made the BIG EAST Honor Roll for her performances earlier in the week at St John's and Providence. The right-fielder is one of eight UofL players who is batting over .300.

Katie (Killer) Keller leads Louisville with a sizzling .457 average. She's also put 10 "Mr Spalding's" over the fence this season. Alicja Wolny is hitting .426 and has seven round-trippers in her stat line. She also probably been walked and hit by pitches than anyone in the BIG EAST. Maggie Ruckenbrod has a .359 average and is deadly at picking off base-runners trying to steal when catching either Caralisa Connell or Rachel LeCoq's pitches.

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CARDINAL COUPLE Radio is on Crescent Hill Radio today at 11 a.m. Jeff McAdams will co-host with Paulie. Jenny O'Bryan on the road ...busy checking signs in Mississippi to make sure Mississippi is spelled correctly.  

In any event, it'll be a exciting show...recaps of the Cal and UConn games and softball and lacrosse on the docket. We'll also hear from Coward Goatsmell, Bud Goode, Peekup Dropvoff and sisters Aileen and Doreen...the Cardinal Dames. Sonja will be heard from also, via the magic of electronic recording devices!

If you miss the original airing, it is available...as are the last two weeks, in the archives. Link below:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO AT CRESCENT HILL RADIO

Have a fantastic weekend!

-Paulie


Ah...the SoundCloud...where the melodic strains of Robbie Bartlett greet you at the start of the show and bid you farewell when we're done. Give us a listen...it don't cost nuthin!

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Wednesday Cardinal Couple - BIG EAST Tournament next for Louisville Softball

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WEDNESDAY WITH THE COUPLE


-Louisville softball BIG EAST Tournament preview


-Taner Fowler


-Our choices for next BIG EAST Commish.


-Go Bode Go

The 2012 BIG EAST Softball Tournament begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 10th. Louisville will play in the second game of the day at 12:30 p.m. against the Connecticut Huskies. The Cards are the #1 seed and take a #8 national ranking and 50-3, 20-2 record into action at South Bend, IN and Notre Dame Stadium. 


The Huskies enter the tournament with a 21-26 overall record and went 9-13 in the BIG EAST. Last time out, UConn was swept in a three game series by Syracuse.

Amy Vaughan, senior OF/catcher for UConn.

Offensively, Amy Vaughan leads the charge for UConn. She carries a .306 average and has 13 home runs and 42 RBI's. Jennifer Ward has scored 29 runs and has a team-leading 25 stolen bases. Connecticut pitching is led by Kiki Saveriano, who tossed 135 strike-outs in 157 innings. Her record is 11-15 and her ERA is 3.25.


The teams did not meet during the regular season. Last time they squared off was in 2011 at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville. They split a double-header with Louisville taking the first game 5-1 and UConn returning the favor with a nightcap 5-1 win. Louisville leads the all-time series 9-5. 

The Cards have advanced to the semi-final round of the BIG EAST Tournament each year since joining the conference in 2006. Louisville last won the tourney in 2007. Syracuse was won the last two years and did it at Ulmer Stadium. 


When at bat, the Cards are led by senior Kristin Austin, who finished the regular season with a .401 batting average. She scored 43 runs and had a nation-high eight triples. Junior Alicja Wolny hit .374 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI's. Sophomore Taner Fowler checks in with a .370 batting average, a team best 11 home runs and 46 RBI's. 

On the mound, Louisville has three threats. Tori Collins is the ace of the staff at 23-1. Her ERA is 1.25 and she's recorded 171 strike outs. Just because Collins isn't on the mound doesn't mean opposing batters get a break. Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard are a combined 27-2 on the season and the trio of Cardinal pitchers have combined for a 1.33 ERA, 357 strikeouts and are holding the competition to a meager .183 batting average. Louisville has tossed 22 shutouts this year. 


The Cards face very stiff competition if they get by UConn. Next would be either South Florida or DePaul on Friday. DePaul dealt Louisville two losses in the three game series in Chicago back in late March-early April. Louisville swept South Florida in mid April at Ulmer but the Bulls have one of the best pitchers in the league in Sara Nevins. 

Three games in three days. Win the tournament and virtually guarantee that you'll host a NCAA Tournament Regional site next week at Ulmer Stadium. Increase on the most wins in a season in Cardinal history. 

Exciting times ahead for Cardinal softball. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be shown free and live on Big East TV. We originally thought the BIG EAST Championship game was to be shown on ESPN 2...but we've also heard ESPN U was having the broadcast recently. 


Good luck and best wishes to the Cards as they travel to South Bend for the tournament. Bring back the trophy, ladies and teach them what L1C4 is all about...


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Louisville sophomore Taner Fowler leads the Cards in home runs this season. The sophomore from Morganfield, KY. goes where ever Sandy Pearsall needs her. When Maggie Ruckenbrod was out with an arm injury at the start of the season, Taner took up residence behind the plate. She can also "cover the corners" by playing first or third base if needed. 


Need a strong bat in the lineup? Taner can DH. Very well, in fact. Her .370 average is third on the team. 


She also wears #11 when on the field. This makes her a favorite of CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owner Sonja's...since that was Sonja's number in field hockey. 


Like Sonja, sometimes Taner will just burst out in laughter or a giggle spontaneously. No particular reason, some thought or memory flashed by and brought back a good feeling....a warm remembrance...a happy time.


Like Sonja, she lost her father unexpectedly while she was in college.

Taner's story is amazing. We've provided a link below that chronicles her journey. 


http://espn.go.com/espnw/college-sports/7900807/louisville-cardinals-sophomore-taner-fowler-swinging-missing-dad

We wish all the Cardinal softball players great success in the post-season. 


Excuse us if we cheer maybe just a little bit louder for #11...


The Courier-Journal ran this article on #11 
a few days back. It's a good read also.


http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120505/SPORTS02/305050197/Taner-Fowler-louisville-softball


A tip of the hat and hearty handshake for CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny for providing the links. We should probably give her a raise. Two rations of banana pudding a day? We'll get back to you.... 



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Joseph A. Bailey will assume the duties of BIG EAST commish until a new one can be hired. We're guessing they couldn't contact Beetle Bailey, ex-jockey Jerry Bailey was busy, defense attorney F.Lee Bailey wanted too much money and Bill Bailey wouldn't come home. 


There is no specific time-frame set for a new hire. It could take some time for the hiring committee of Moe, Larry, Curly, David Spade, Jerry Springer, Andy Dick and Jon Stewart to get together all in the same place and at the same time. Here is our TOP TEN list of candidates to replace Johnny: 

10) Charlie Sheen. Talk about "out of the box" thinking! And, he'd be sure to attend a lot of women's sporting events and gala BIG EAST party affairs. And, he could dress like he did in Platoon. That'll make sure no one else tries to raid the BIG EAST. Drawback is his relative in-experience in sports. Even though he was in a major league baseball movie, his Wall Street past might comeback to haunt the BIG EAST coffers.  

9) Terry Meiners. Local radio and television funny guy would add a sense of triviality and nonsense to a conference that takes itself way too seriously. The weekly tele-conferences would be "must see" TV and when it comes to lampooning note-worthy figures...no one does it better than 'Larry Miners'. They'd probably have to hire a chauffeur for him, though. No problem. Take the funding for a driver out of the St John's football budget.   

8) Paul McCartney. The Beatle would ensure great attendance at any BIG EAST sporting event he might attend. And, he could change up a few tunes to liven things up. Imagine him singing a re-worked version of Hey, Jude to UofL WBB sophomore guard Jude Schimmel. Or, Mean Mr. Mustard to UConn coach Geno Auriemma. Beatle wigs for everyone! 


7) Richie Farmer. Lil' Richie knows hoops! And, he's adept at adapting circumstances to fit the needs of the one, not the many. Perfect for a conference that has been raided more often than a prohibition speakeasy. Hit 'em with the "bro-stash", Wildcat! 


6) Commish Mark. We felt our very own Mark did a fine job running the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA TOURNAMENT Women's Basketball Pick 'Em Bracket contest. The BIG EAST Commish job might be a step down for him...but sometimes, you take one for the team. We'd chip in Bill the Goat and Co-Co, too...if the BIG EAST hires him. 

5) Joe B.Hall/Denny Crum. We like the easy banter that Joe and Denny have on their radio show. We feel it would translate easily to a BIG EAST job.


JOE: "Doggone it, Denny. We've got to stop teams from leavin' the dad-gum conference!" 
DENNY: "You're right, Joe. Let's take them fishing." 


4) John Calipari. Wouldn't have to worry about playing Indiana in this slot and he could learn all about football from "World Wide Wes"...whose taught him everything else he's ever learned about sports. 


3) Dr. Phil. The BIG EAST has a ton of troubles going on. Dr. Phil solves problems. Enough said.

2) Sgt. Schultz. The affable Hogan's Heroes actor is the best we've seen at non-information.


"I know nothing about conference expansion, Col. Hogan. I know nothing about lucrative television contracts!" Truly, a match made in heaven with a conference that doesn't have a clue.

1) Bobby Petrino. The BIG EAST has football woes. Bobby Petrino knows football. He can also tell BIG EAST athletic directors exactly what they want to hear. The drawback? Ol' Bob changes jobs every few hours or so...it might be a lead-in for him taking the head football coaching job at UK.  


Whoever the BIG EAST decides on, we hope that the winner keeps one important thing in mind...


They gotta live in Providence, RI. Line up, boys! 


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Finally, for today's horse racing fix...a video of Bodemeister's journey to his second place Ky. Derby finish...along with the preparation for the race. Good stuff, link below... Thanks to Jen Jade, from In the Money for passing it on! 


Go Bode Go
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