Softball wins series finale 2-0 vs #7 FSU -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Good morning,

It was a refreshing weekend of reset for myself around the house as we wrap up the month of April and head into the first weekend of May.  Good news, our plumbing issue was resolved this past week so we can breath again.   

Softball

Cardinals 2 vs FSU 0

Photo: Jared Anderson

Louisville secured a huge shutout victory in the final match of the series with #7 ranked FSU.  Alyssa Zabala (9-9) completed the game giving up just 4 hits and no runs and striking out 2.    Louisville scored 2 runs on 3 hits taking advantage of 2 FSU errors.  The Louisville defense made many game changing catches, especially on the left side of the field in the form of line drives at Alexander and diving catches by Lorenz.  

The squad secured an ego boosting victory over the Seminoles who had prior only lost one ACC matchup.    The win put the Cards over the .500 mark heading into the final weekend on the road.  It was the 4th time the Seminoles had been shut out this season.  

RECAP
1st inning

To start the game, the Cardinals defense held up when a groundout third base to first, a strikeout swinging the threat from a standing double to right center and an 8 pitch at bat results in a groundout to SS to keep the Seminoles from taking advantage early on.

For UofL, Lotus struck out swinging and Lorenz managed a triple thanks to the sun in the face of the right fielder and the Cardinals were pouncing quickly.   Followed by a squeeze bunt by Despines allows a face first slide with an unsuccessful tag at the plate and the batter safe at first.  Lookadoo with a line drive out to center field.  Despines caught stealing to end the inning but Louisville came out making some series moves in the first. 


Cards up 1-0

Photo: Jared Anderson

2nd inning

The Seminoles singled to the left side to put a runner on.  Then FSU beat a double play attempt at both first and second, however, the Cards got a second chance on the next batter up. Nice poke to left but Lorenz made a huge catch to end the scoring threat.  

3 up 3 down by the Cards in the bottom half of the inning. 


3rd inning

A couple of groundouts before FSU stranded another runner in first 3 innings after a line drive goes straight at Lotus at 2nd base.

Cards responded by stranding one on third on a swinging strikeout at the plate.


4th inning

3 up 3 down for Seminoles offense.  

Cards tacked on another run taking advantage of an FSU error.  Both FSU errors on the evening would be committed at 1b.  

Cards up 2-0

Photo: Jared Anderson

5th inning

3 up 3 down for Zabala in back to back innings.  

Louisville would do the same. 


6th inning

A bad catch at first allows Lookadoo to get on but nothing became of it for the Cardinals to tack anything on heading into thee final frame of regulation.  


7th inning

Photo: Jared Anderson

Zabala came back into the circle to finish her night how she started... trusting her defense.  There was a moment where Aprile called a huddle to gather the squad when with 2 out FSU singled to LF and the tying run was at the plate. Fittingly a line drive at Ally Alexander for the second or third time in the game ended the game and a Gatorade celebration ensuesd. 

Postgame

Jared Anderson was out there and talked to a couple players about the big win.  

Despines and Zabala vs FSU postgame 4/27/25

Photo: Jared Anderson

UP NEXT

UofL @ Pittsburgh 

5/1-5/3

Its finals week for students, good luck!!! 

As Always, 
Go Cards

~Daryl 

SOFTBALL CARDS FALL 3-0 TO NOLES -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 GRAY'S CIRCLE EFFORT FALLS SHORT 

If you love a softball game where pitching dominates and hits come at a premium, Ulmer Stadium was the place for you Saturday.

In a reversal of the slug-fest Friday night against FSU, Louisville Softball and the Seminoles engaged in a dual between two pitchers...the Cards sophomore Brooke Gray and FSU's freshman Jazzy Francilk. The teams remained scoreless for six innings. The hits were at a premium as well...Louisville just getting two in seven innings. and never really threatening to push a run across the plate. Only  Easton Lotus and Bri Despines were able to get singles against Francik and the FSU defense. 

In Gray's best effort of the year, she kept the top-ten Noles (42-6, 16-1) at bay until the top of the seventh. Gray was able to get two out on FSU, before a single and walk put two on for the visitors and Isa Torres cam to bat and delivered the big blow for FSU, a double to left field that scored both runners. That closed the book on Gray, and the Cards inserted Sam Booe into the circle. She allowed one more hit and a unearned run before recording the final out of the inning.  The damage had been done and Louisville found themselves down three going into their last at bat. 

Louisville tried to start a rally. They got a walk, but the bats still weren't working and Ashtyn Dantley, who pitched the final inning for FSU, was able to retire the rest of the Cards she faced and get the save for FSU.  

The loss is the fourth in a row for a Cardinals squad that needs wins this time of year. Three runs is not an insurmountable object to overcome -- Louisville has won at least four games this year where they allowed three runs...the problem is these "on again, off again" Cardinals bats. The Cards have been held scoreless in three of their last four outings 

Louisville goes to 23-23 on the season and 6-14 in the ACC. 

The two squads face for the series finale tomorrow. It's a ACCN game and will be broadcast from Ulmer at 6 p.m.

(PHOTOS BY JARED ANDERSON)

Softball hosts #7 FSU this weekend -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL


Good morning readers,

Welcome back to another weekend. One week from Oaks and Derby day. Yes, I am still counting down!

Softball

Barring no weather adjustments Louisville vs Florida State are scheduled for a 3 day series. 

The leaders of the ACC conference softball standings and #7 ranked Seminoles are on a 5 game winning streak with the last loss coming to Virginia 0-2 on 4/4. They sport a 40-6, 14-1 ACC record. The series is scheduled to start Friday 4/25 with a 6pm first pitch, Saturday at 1pm and Sunday’s at 6pm all available on the ACCNX.  The UofL program will be celebrating Senior Day on Saturday.  

Sophomore infielder Isa Torres leads FSU's offense with a .448 batting average on 74 hits, nine doubles, seven triples, and one triple. Her 74 hits lead the conference and put her second in the country. 

Freshman Jazzy Francik was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on April 15 for her performance against Cal. Francik has 65 strikeouts, 18 earned runs, 13 walks, and a 1.85 ERA through 68.0 innings pitched, good for second in the ACC.  

FSU leads the series against Louisville 21-8-1. FSU has won five out of the last six games in Louisville. FSU won two out of the three games last season in Louisville.

As Always,
Go Cards

~Daryl   

WCWS Championship, Dana Evans & CHI Sky @ INDY This Weekend; FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOD Friday morning Louisville and Cardinal Couple readers ! 

She's back on the personal keyboard this week checking in with the Cardinal Couple faithful after quite the hiatus, and I appreciate the rest of the CC team stepping up in my absence.  I did get the chance to unplug and relax on the beach for a week but it was sandwiched between an ACC Softball Championship with the ACC network and two back to back home-stands down at Slugger field.

Just a whooole lot of button pushing going on between the desk job during the day & the sports stuff in the evenings.  And of course when I'm not on a clock, I'm at home pushing the boyfriend's buttons every chance I get...

Anywho, I am glad that it's mid-June and there's a couple things I can talk about.

Women's College World Series 

Firstly, I hope you got the chance to tune into the Women's College World Series over the past week.  I did miss Day One where JMU stunned the softball world and beat both 'home teams' Oklahoma and Oklahoma State... but i did obsessively watch the rest up until Thursday's Game 3 of the Championship between OU and Florida State.

 
I was absolutely thrilled that no super blue team was in OKC.  UCLA doesn't count.  I was rooting for the Bruins to repeat as Champs.  We had a very maroon 'Final Four' and witnessed some historic and downright "bad-a$$" performances and plays. 

"Shout out to me? Well, a shout out 
right back at ya, Daryl !" 

Shout out to Montana Fouts for the perfect game.  The KY native celebrated her 21st birthday with an epic performance in the circle.  Shout out to JMU's Odicci Alexander for the game winning play at the plate.. the fifth year senior gave the game her ALL.  The play of Mackenzie Donihoo of OU also stands out in my mind.  She had excellent at bats which often resulted in a hit and/or a run...and her efforts on defense when she was diving for fair and foul balls out in left field...were fun to watch. She also made sure to keep the crowd hyped in between pitches. 

The 2021 WCWS was a glorious event filled with everything at its best.  I do believe this was the first event with a full capacity crowd for the USA since COVID restrictions have lifted?  It was loud and it was beautiful, rain delays and all.

After it was all said and done, the Oklahoma Sooners were crowned the 2021 champions after a dominating game 3 performance.  It is the fifth title for the Sooners in program history, all under HC Patty Gasso, the last one coming in 2017. After falling to FSU in game one The Sooners battled back in game 2 and 3 to take the title back to campus, 25 miles down the road from HOF Stadium.

 

The CCRHP gang was upset with me cutting off the championship talk in our group chat because I was recording it to watch after work... But I think we were all in agreement that we were not rooting for the Seminoles to dog-pile for the trophy. 

OU homered in the first and second inning and put up a 3 spot in the third to make it a 5-1 victory for the Sooners.  Danielle Watson took the "L' . The former Cardinals pitcher gave up back-to-back "touch-em-alls" in the second inning and that was enough for the Sooners to win, but more OU scores were to come. 

Bye, bye, Noles...

The Seminoles' lone run was scored an RBI double but it was a very high pop up lost in the sun in the shallow 1st/2nd base area.  Sooners ace Giselle Juarez allowed one run on two hits on Thursday afternoon and was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. The left-hander allowed four runs in 31 1/3 innings.  Fittingly, the last out was a very short pop up into her glove.

Game over.

It was a dominating day for Oklahoma. 

 

DANA EVANS - Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever this weekend!

After the Fever visited the Sky in Chicago on Wednesday evening, the Sky will follow the bus back to Indy to face the Fever for a Saturday afternoon rematch.

The game is scheduled to tipoff at 1p.m.

The Sky downed Indy 92-76 in that previous meeting, Dana Evans had 9 points, 1 assist and a rebound in 12 minutes on the floor. 

I have a feeling she's just getting settled into her new role in Chicago... the place she probably should've gone to to begin with.  It just so happens that I planned on heading to Indianapolis Saturday afternoon... coincidence? We will find out... 

So I am tentative for the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast for Saturday.  

The Indy trip is confirmed.. the game, is a maybe.  A really want to maybe, though.  I definitely intend on catching some WNBA games in Indy at some point.  

Have a great Friday y'all.  Wear your sunscreen & tip the bartenders. 

Go Cards! 

~Daryl 

Myisha, Mystics master Minnesota -- FSU pounds Oklahoma in WCWS -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

MYSTICS 85 - MINNESOTA 81

Myisha Hines-Allen had 18 points last night and Washington put together a 53-38 advantage over the Minnesota Lynx last night in the second and third quarters to down the visiting Lynx. 

As it is with Washington, if Tina Charles has a big game, the Mystics do pretty well, and the former UConn Husky great didn't disappoint the home crowd with 31 points. The two were part of a four-playerd double digit point effort that improved Washington to 3-5 and dropped Minnesota to 3-5.

A 27-18 third quarter edge put DC in the drivers seat 70-56 and they were able to hold on, despite a late rally by the visitors to get the win. 

Guard play is always key in a team's success and Washington got a good effort last night from Ariel Atkins (17 pts.) and Natasha Cloud (11 points) to contribute to the win. 

Charles has had four 30 point plus games this season and leads the WNBA with 25.1 ppg. She's also shooting 48% from the floor. It makes one wonder just how good the Mystics might be if they had Elena Della Donne in the lineup. She's taking things day-to-day, though and hasn't set a date for her comeback.  It also raises the question of how Washington will handle things when she does. Will it put Hines-Allen on the benc h as a reserve, or will Washington play the trio of Charles, Della Donne and Hines-Allen as starters and sit Shavonte Zellous?  

Washington remains home for their next contest, when they bring in the LA Sparks (4-3) Thursday night. 

FSU 8 -- OKLAHOMA 4 

The first game in the WCWS Finals took place last night in Oklahoma City and it was Florida State often and early, bombarding the Sooners 8-4/ 

FSU held a 7-0 lead after the top of the fourth -- a five-run inning helped that explosion -- and I was beginning to wonder if this one might get run ruled. Ex UofL pitcher Danielle Watson  wasn't getting battered by Sooner bats yet and FSU seemed to be having a field day against OU hurler Nicole May. 

The Sooners weren't quite ready to stop playing for the night, though. They went back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fourth against Watson and added two more in the bottom of the sixth to chase Watson from the circle and make it 7-4. 

Kat Sandercock came in to pitch and to save the day for the ACC school, though, and the Noles picked up a top of the seventh inning run to double the score and take the contest. 

It's interesting to note that each time this year OU has lost a game, the losing streak has stopped there. It happened early in the season against Georgia and most recently in the WCWS against James Madison. A two-game losing streak this time of year equates to your season being over, so the pressure is on the Sooners tonight to "even it up".

We also learned more about the "catcher interference" call by an umpire that most of us knew last night. When the catcher puts her knee down before catching the ball, that does constitute as blocking the plate without possession of the ball. Thus, the obstruction call comes into play.

The runner has to be given an opportunity to reach the plate, and in this case with the knee down without the ball, that is why obstruction was charged to the catcher.

OU came into the WCWS as the #1 seed and now have a 54-4 record. The Noles are 49-11-1 as the #10 seed and the tie came against our Louisville Softball squad -- a matter of travel arrangements necessitating FSU leave Ulmer and head to the airport. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

paulie 

  

Softball falls to Duke 4-3; FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Good Friday morning Louisville fans, 

It sucks to be the one to report the season ender for any of our favorite programs at UofL... yesterday was a looooooong day out at Ulmer stadium.  But at least it was a gorgeous sunny day for everyone to enjoy at the ballpark.  A quick recap of the day's games before getting into Louisville's heart breaker. 

CLEMSON 2 - GEORGIA TECH 0 

The day started out with a great pitchers duel between Clemson/Georgia Tech that ended in a 2-0 win for the Tigers.  Made possible only by sending the ball yard twice into right center field, redshirt Junior Cammy Pereira did the damage at the plate for Clemson.  Freshman, Valerie Cagle got the win moving her record to 25-4. The ACC Player of the Year, threw her 10th complete-game shutout and matched her career-high 14 strikeouts as the Tigers advanced to the ACC semifinal.

VIRGINIA TECH 4 - NOTRE DAME 1 

Game two played host to the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish swept the Hokies in the 4 game regular season series and the Hokies got revenge on Thursday afternoon, ending Notre Dame's 14 game win streak.  Winning pitcher, and ACC pitcher of the year, Keely Rochard threw a four-hitter, striking out seven and walking three. She pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the fourth and fifth innings. Tech committed two errors Thursday — both by third baseman Cameron Fagan. The one run Tech allowed was unearned. The Hokies will face 13th-ranked and top-seeded Clemson (41-5) in a semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday. Virginia Tech won two of three games at Clemson in February.  It will be a pitching showdown between the two programs, I'm sure! 

FLORIDA STATE 2  - NC STATE 0 

Game three of the day featured the Florida State Seminoles and NC State, who advanced with a 4-2 win over UNC on Wednesday. Again, it was the homeruns that made the difference in the game. FSU's redshirt freshman, Devyn Flaherty, sent the ball into right center field for the solo HR and the game winner in the bottom of the second, her fifth HR of the season. NC State’s only two hits of the evening came from redshirt senior right fielder Tatyana Forbes during the second inning and redshirt senior center fielder Angie Rizzi during the third. Kathryn Sandercock, started and pitched her sixth complete game of the season.  Sandercock only faced 24 batters and threw a total of 77 pitches, including 5 strikeouts, against the Wolfpack.

And now for the day's finale... game four.

DUKE 4 - LOUISVILLE 3 

It looked like it was going to be a short night for the Cards as they were the away team in this game, Duke got off to a hot start with what looked like to me, an obvious homerun shot to left field by Junior Kristina Foreman in the bottom of the first inning.  The 2nd baseman trotted around the base path before attempting to round third, she was tagged by the Louisville defender and called out by the umpires.  The ball ricocheted off the camera operators scaffold and back into the playing area which prompted a review by the umpires.  It was later determined that it was indeed a homerun and Foreman rightfully took her trot across the plate and the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead.

The Cards responded in the top of the second to load the bases.  But not without another review and overturned call by the umpires on (what looked like an obvious call to me in live play) a play at 1B where Cassady Greenwood beat the throw by a half a step.  Senior centerfielder Celene Funke found herself with bases loaded and no outs.  The struggling senior poked one over the defense to centerfield to score a run and keep the bases loaded with nobody out.  A fielders choice would give Duke their first out of the inning on the force at home by Vanessa Miller.  Carmyn Greenwood singled on a hit to third base and everyone advanced.  Maddy Newman was able to send one to deep right field which allowed speedy Celene Funke to score and tie it up on the SAC FLY.   Taylor Roby ended the offensive spark with a strikeout.

The two early half innings combined for the most runs in a game all day. 

Duke was able to secure the victory in the bottom of the fourth when Foreman, again, scored for the Blue Devils.  She was walked before scoring from first base on a double by senior first baseman Rachel Crabtree.   Duke then had a stellar defensive play in the top of the fifth to kill all momentum by the Cards' bats.  Maddy Newman saw a serious left field shift that featured 2 short stops but was able to find the gap for the single.  However a mistake on base-running ended the threat for Louisville.  Roby got out on a diving catch by the catcher at the away dugout, who then immediately popped up and put Maddy in a pickle where she was tagged out attempting to reach back to first.  

The Cards left runners on in the fifth and the sixth to end their season and hope for an ACC championship.  In a shocking turn of events, Celene Funke led the Cards at the plate going 2-3 on the day.  Roby takes the loss moving her to a 12-14 record this season.  UofL finishes the season with a 21-28-1 record.  The roster featured seven seniors this season. 

Like I said, it was a long day out at Ulmer and the Cards just ran out of gas.  I hate that we had to see tears from a couple of Cards, but that just shows how passionate they are about this program.  Even if they don't see it now, they did push this program a little further in the national softball realm.  Congrats to the seniors on their careers here at Louisville.  We, at Cardinal Couple, will always cheer for your successes!  

(Louisville Softball photos by Jared Anderson) 


WOMENS SOCCER

Former University of Louisville women's soccer midfielder Emina Ekic has been named a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American.

In addition, she was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team.

It marks the third straight season that Ekic has been named a USC All-American, as she was named a Second Team All-American following her sophomore and junior campaigns.

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR PODCAST

I will be out for radio this and next week as i am wrapping up the ACC tournament with the championship game Saturday at noon and vacation next weekend. Case will also miss the broadcast due to a wedding.  But i do believe the rest of the gang will be in tow! Be careful out there and don't forget to wear your sunscreen! 

Go Cards 

~Daryl 

Softball series vs FSU Schedule change -- Tennis loses to Duke 0-4 -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Fridays with Daryl! 

Good morning UofL fans!  How is it Friday again already?  A lot to unpack.. we watched Volleyball bow out of the tournament, that was a bummer. 

Our buddy and columnist Jeff McAdams lost his dad... I hope he had an easy week returning from Omaha after the Cards loss and laying Charlie to rest.

I have had a HECK of a M-F work-wise on all fronts.  The softball Cards lost in undisciplined fashion Wednesday evening to the UK squad, it freaking snowed that morning... and we anticipated softball schedule changes for the weekend.  But there is good news to share!! 

SHE SAID YES !!!

Our pal, photographer and CARDINAL COUPLE columnist Jared Anderson has announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend, Katy! Congratulations to the lovely couple! I almost called them a Cardinal Couple until I realized Katy is a FSU grad/fan! I wonder if there's any coincidence to the weekend of the engagement announcement and that FSU in in town for Softball ?!?   

Speaking of Florida State... the visiting softball squad..

Schedule Update: Cardinals and #7 Seminoles Will Play 

Friday Doubleheader at 3 p.m.; Sunday Doubleheader at 12 p.m.

UofL Softball (16-21) will take on its third-straight top-25 opponent this weekend when the Cardinals play host to #7 FSU (31-6) in a four-game ACC series starting on Friday.

With rain in the forecast for all day Saturday, 

the weekend schedule has been altered to open with a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. 

The final two games of the series will be played as a Sunday doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

 

On both days, the first game will be televised on the ACC Network with game two airing on ACC Network Extra.

Prior to Sunday's 12 p.m. doubleheader, UofL will honor 2020 senior Caitlin Ferguson followed by the 2021 departing seniors.


Series Record: Seminoles lead the series 14-6.

The last time the Cards played Florida State at Ulmer...remember the beautiful sunset? Our Jared Anderson caught this magnificent photo.

Last Meeting: April 6-8, 2019 - Ulmer Stadium

RECAP: The Cards upset No. 3/3 Florida State winning the three-game series 2-1. The first game of the series resulted in a 2-0 win. The second game of the day ended in a 4-1 victory for the Seminoles. The final game of the series resulted in a 10-9 victory for the Cards. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cards rallied back from a 9-7 deficit with a three-run walk-off double from Rebecca Chung.

• With the win the Cards clinched the series, marking the Seminoles' first conference series loss since 2012.

About the 2021 Seminoles

Florida State heads into the series riding a 15 game winning streak. During that streak, the Seminoles have recorded seven shutouts while only allowing 15 runs. Last week in Syracuse the Seminoles hit 13 home runs, including a six home run game against the Orange, tying a program record.

 
RS-Senior Caylan Arnold and RS-Sophomore Kathryn Sandercock are leading the Seminole pitching staff. They have combined for 25 wins and 158 strikeouts. Arnold leads Florida State with 94 strikeouts and Sandercock leads the team with a 1.30 ERA and a 16-1 record.

Former Card, Danielle Watson returns to Louisville now with FSU. Listed as a RS-Junior, the RHP left Cards suddenly in December of 2019. She's third in line in the circle for the Seminoles.


Tennis falls in ACC tournament to Duke

The University of Louisville women's tennis team bowed out of the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference with a 4-0 loss to No. 14-ranked Duke Thursday morning in Rome, Ga.

The Cardinals dropped the singles match losing at the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. Chelsea Sawyer and Raven Neely fell 6-3 to Chloe Beck and Karolina Berankova. The point was clinched when Tatiana Simova and Dina Chaika fell 6-3 at No. 3.

Moving to singles, Duke added to its lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win by Chloe Beck over UofL's Raven Neely. Next to fall was Louisville's Andrea Di Palma at No. 1 dropping the match to Georgia Drummy 6-3, 6-2. The match was clinched at the No. 6 spot, when Dina Chaika fell 7-5, 6-0 to Hannah Zhao.

The Cards end their season at 9-13.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

I'll be back on for podcast this weekend. I think I recall Case saying he was out, Jared might have some ENGAGEMENTS now but like I stated, we've got a lot to unpack, so make sure you tune in tomorrow morning. 11 a.m.  

As always, go Cards go! 

~Daryl