Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Softball Cards hold on for 2-1 win over IPFW

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Cards escape bases loaded IPFW 7th to win.

-Meet Bill Salyer

-Cardinal Couple Radio today!

-Preakness? Nonsense...

If you are a fan of strong, dominating pitching...you had to love last night's 2-1 UofL win over IPFW in Ulmer Stadium. If you have a heart condition, though...the seventh inning probably had you looking for a first aid station or a defibrillator. Alicja Wolny's grab of a shot from IPFW's Alex Bousquet down the first base line got the Cards out of trouble and into the 2 p.m. game Saturday against UAB in the winner's bracket.

The Cards couldn't figure out IPFW pitcher Miranda Kramer in the first four innings. Three up, three down in the first three frames and a perfect game on the scoreboard before Katelyn Mann singled with one out in the fourth, stole second and Alicja Wolny drew a walk. The Cards were unable to capitalize, though...Maggie Ruckenbrod flying out to right and Jordan Trimble caught looking at one of Kramer's nine strikeouts.

Meanwhile, starting Louisville pitcher Rachel LeCoq was creating her own masterpiece on the mound, allowing just two hits and two Mastodon baserunners through five innings. Louisville entered the bottom of the fifth deadlocked in a scoreless tie and needed to make something happen.

Hannah made it happen. Hannah Kiyohara, UofL's left fielder started the inning with a sharp single to left. She was lifted for pinch runner Chrisanna Roberts, who advanced to second when Kramer plunked Taner Fowler with a fastball. Whitney Arion followed with a bloop infield single the load the bags with Cards and no outs. Jennifer Esteban, playing in her first game back from injury, drilled a shot literally off third base that IPFW couldn't come up with and Roberts scored to give the Cards a 1-0 lead. They wasted a prime opportunity to add to the margin though...Katie Keller becoming another Kramer KO victim, Mann popping out to first and Wolny grounding out to second.

IPFW wasted no time in tying it up in the top of the sixth. Alex Bousquet took a LeCoq fast ball to right center and it cleared the fence by the slimmest of margins. LeCoq recovered, however and sent the next three Mastodons back to the dugout.

Louisville responded in the home half of the sixth. After Maggie Ruckenbrod benefited from a dropped routine fly ball by IPFW right fielder Hillary Kartman, Jasmine Smithson Willett came in to pinch run.

( Our own Jenny O'Bryan, sitting in the right field open seating claims responsibility for the error...surmising that her taunting must have finally got to Kartman.)

Jordan Trimble's sacrifice bunt moved JSW to third and Kiyohara came to the rescue again, drilling a rope up the middle of the infield that nearly decapitated Kramer. It scored Smithson-Willett. Fowler's bloop infield gave the Cards runners on first and second...but Kramer shut the door once again...sending Arion and Esteban away from the plate with her eighth and ninth strikeouts.

All Louisville had to do was retire the Mastodons in the top of the seventh to take the win...but it proved to be an arduous task. With one out, LeCoq hit designated hitter Audrey Minton with a fastball inside. Prestlee Cooper came in to pinch run but watched as LeCoq fanned Megan Flenniken for the second out. It looked like it was over when Brittany Kachur hit a routine grounder to Cardinal shortstop Arion...but she had trouble coming up with it and suddenly, the Mastodons and two runners. With the infield playing in...Kayti Hanson lined a shot at UofL third baseman Mann, but she bobbled it and it was pulse-check time. Bags loaded, two outs and home run hitter Alex Bousquet at bat.
Fortunately, Wolny fielded the hit safely and the Cards were winners. After scaring around 800 fans to death.

Kiyohara was humble in the post game press conference, as was Esteban...simply stating they did what they had to do to help the team to a win. LeCoq was brilliant in her performance in the circle...admitting she "might have got the pitch a little high" on Bousquet's homer.

On a night where Louisville's three All-Region selections went a combined 0 for 8 at the plate...a transfer pitcher, player fresh off an injury and Hannah "Kivohara" (according to her name tag placard in the post-game press room) bailed out the Cards on a night where the rain mercifully held off.



<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>><><><><>


Louisville opens action Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against UAB. The Blazers used a six run third inning to send UCLA to the losers' bracket 6-3. UCLA and IPFW follow at approximately 4:30 p.m.

If the Cards win, they play for the regional title Sunday. If not, they face the winner of the UCLA vs. IPFW game about thirty minutes after the completion of that one. That winner will also advance to Sunday's finals...in the double elimination format.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I had a great conversation wih IPFW Assistant Athletic Director for Media Services Bill Salyer before the Louisville game. He explained the choice of a mastodon as the school mascot. An important archaeological "dig" a few miles from the IPFW campus uncovered a great skeleton of a prehistoric mastodon and a baby mastodon as well...

It's a good thing they didn't find Jimmy Hoffa. The IPFW Hoffas just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

The mascot is called Don the Mastodon and Bill revealed to me that the Fort Wayne, Indiana school has an enrollment of about 14,000 students....mostly commuters. They have 16 sports teams on campus and play men's volleyball instead of football. About 50 IPFW softball fans were on hand to cheer on the Mastodons.

Best quip of the night in the press box also came courtesy of Bill when he deadpanned:

"I only go out drinking on two different occasions a year. When it's my birthday...and when it isn't."

He didn't reveal whether he's a potential candidate to replace Julie Hermann at Louisville or not...probably because I never asked if he was or not...but you gotta love the guy's spirit. They even do occasional radio broadcasts of IPFW softball. Are ya reading this, Mr. Jurich?

Jeff and I stand ready to handle the play-by-play and color commentary duties. We haven't decided just who would do which and it probably wouldn't matter...two babbling guys who are going to go off on random tangents and things unrelated to softball or sports would well be worth a listen.

Speaking of...we're on the radio this morning at 11. Crescent Hill Radio, along with outfield hooligan Jenny. We'll see just how far her taunts get here over the internet airwaves...

Join us, won't you? Either live or archived on the heavenly Soundcloud.  

LINK BELOW:

THREE REASONS TO ACCESS THE INTERNET


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I've gotten several inquiries from folks on whether anyone can beat  ORB today in the Preakness at Pimlico. My answer? Not unless they've cloned Secretariat and have entered "BIG RED II" in the race. Sonja is in full agreement.

Since ORB will probably go off as the odds-on favorite, there won't be a lot of money to be made there. We're going to try a Pick 4 earlier in the card that ends with the Preakness. Looking for some prices in the first three and a "single" with ORB in the final leg.

IF pressed for a possible upset special in the Preakness Stakes, I'll offer either GOLDENCENTS..who will force the early pace and probably try to wire the field, or ITSMYLUCKYDAY, a horse I absolutely loved when he was a 2 yr. old and has still got me waiting for that one huge triumph.

Sonja says that beating ORB is liking pitching a no-hitter against the Louisville softball team. Improbable, highly unlikely but not impossible. She loves OPTIMIZER in a earlier race on the card today in Maryland and will be backing that one fairly significantly.

Happy Preakness!

-Paulie

--

Friday Cardinal Couple -- Cards hope third time is charm

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Softball faces IPFW in Louisville NCAA Regional

-Three named to NFCA All-Great Lakes Region team

-Cameron Newbauer named Belmont head coach


Julie Hermann was fond of speaking about a sense of urgency around the UofL campus when it came to sports. Sandy Pearsall is a firm believer of taking games one at a time. So, can you combine urgency and systematic approaches when it comes to advancing in the NCAA softball tournament?

For Louisville, hopefully the answer will be yes. The Cards begin their quest to get to the WCWS (Women's College World Series) tonight when they take on the Mastadons of Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne at 7:30 p.m. in Ulmer Stadium.

The regional also represents the third title that the Cards will try for in the 2013 season. Louisville appeared to be in the driver's seat for the BIG EAST regular season crown...but a rough weekend in South Bend to end the regular season left the Cards in third place in the regular season standings. UofL came into the BIG EAST Tournament in Tampa, FL last weekend looking for redemption and blasted Syracuse over into the Gulf of Mexico briny deep with a 12-3 shellacking. The homestanding Bulls thwarted the Cards chances of getting to the title game, though...blanking the Louisville bats in a 3-0 win en route to the BIG EAST Tournament title.

Round three approaches. The Louisville lineup, filled with powerful hitters from leadoff to ninth batter, will look to bombard Brandeis Avenue behind the left field fence as they try to advance to a 2 p.m. semifinal date Saturday.

If you're sitting out on the grassy knoll behind the outfield, a hard hat or motion sensing device might not be a bad idea. Louisville led the BIG EAST in home runs and with fence swingers Maggie Ruckenbrod, Alicja Wolny, Taner Fowler, Katelyn "Mannie" Mann and Katie Keller capable of saying goodbye to Mr. Spalding at any time...the Mastadons might need radar tracking devices to keep sight of the flights and the Cardinals' ability to clear the bags.

UAB and UCLA start it off at 5 p.m. Louisville is offering a free shuttle bus from Papa John's Stadium to Ulmer Stadium for fans from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m....in case you're looking to avoid the $5 parking fee closer to the stadium.

See you at Ulmer.

><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>

Alicja Wolny and Katie Keller were named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team yesterday and Maggie Ruckenbrod received second team honors.

What Louisville and its' vicinity to the Great Lakes have in common is anyone's guess...but it's still quite a huge honor for these three softball Cards.

ALICJA WOLNY, a senior from El Dorado Hills, CA., was also selected for the first team last year. She's been a four-year starter and four-year member of the All-BIG EAST Conference team. Wolny led the Cards with a .417 batting average and had 10 home runs, 52 RBI's and scored 39 runs. If Katy Perry had been a Cardinal Softball season ticket holder, Wolny probably would have batted .600 and had 30 fence clearers. The steady first baseman for the Cards is also the team leader when it comes to advice, confidence and style.

KATIE KELLER, a junior second baseman from Livermore, CA. is also a two-time All-Great Lakes Region selection. She hit for .412 in 2013 and set a school single season record with 54 RBI's. Her 12 home runs led Louisville this season and she was selected as the USA Softball National Player of the Week this year as well. "Killer" Keller also plays a mean second base defensively and it's also reported that the Louisville International Airport air controllers have requested that special tracking devices get implanted in the softballs when Keller comes to bat....so they can identify the moon shots and not get them confused with meteors...

MAGGIE RUCKENBROD, a junior hailing from St. Louis, MO. is batting .349 in 57 games and has seven home runs, 40 RBI's and 35 hits. "Large Marge" also knows a thing or two about catching and baserunners who think about stealing on her usually regret the decision if they attempt it. She has thrown out 15 thieves this season and picked off 10 slow-to-react base dwellers. She holds the school record for season and career pick off and stealers retired. We're not sure if it's true or not, but it is rumored that the Louisville Metro Police Department anxiously awaits her graduation so  they can add her to the Crime Prevention Unit. No one steals when Large Marge is around.

In this columnist opinion, center fielder Jordan Trimble should have been the fourth Card to receive NFCA All-Great Lakes Region honors. She's a prime-time, tournament star...however and you can expect her to rattle some fences and shake the confidence of a few pitchers over the weekend.

Congratulations to our Softball stars!! Keep it up, ladies.

Readers, please try to get out to Ulmer tonight and this weekend to cheer on your softball Cards. One of the most common themes I've run into when talking to these incredible ladies that make up the UofL Softball team is the joy, excitement and delight they feel when they see the seats and outfield watching areas packed with red-clad fans.

You help them be what they are.

Make them great this weekend.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


Louisville assistant women's basketball coach Cameron Newbauer is headed to Belmont.

No, not the third leg of horse racing's triple crown. The university in Nashville, Tennessee. As the head coach.

Cam was a Louisville assistant for one year under Jeff Walz before taking the plunge and accepting the head position at Belmont University.

Cam is a rising, young star of women's college basketball coaches. He was instrumental in getting the University of Louisville women's basketball team to the National Championship game in 2013. His knowledge of skills, defense and fundamentals were a great help to the Cards in his one season here.

Another success story springs from the coaching tree that is Jeff Walz. We figured his time here at UofL was limited, at best....a man with so much talent and expertise doesn't stay un-recruited and ignored for long.

The wheels got into motion when Belmont head coach Brittney Ezell resigned April 28th. after three seasons to take the East Tennessee State head coaching job. Newbauer was an obvious choice and accpeted yesterday. A press conference is scheduled for Monday.

We have a feeling it's not the last stop on Cam's rise to head coaching. Recognition of talent and skill is always rewarded.

We wish Cam the best of luck with Belmont...he was always a great interview and know he'll be successful in this...his first head coaching opportunity.  



-Paulie


--

Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- Meet the competition

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-They come from north, south and west to challenge Cards in NCAA Regionals

-Softball Cards statistics

-Another Shoni and Jude story

-Julie Hermann one of two finalists for Rutgers job.

Three teams travel to Louisville, arriving Wednesday or Thursday, to compete for the Regional Championship. Louisville is one of sixteen spots hosting a regional. Here's a look at the three squads that will try to defeat Louisville and claim the prize of Regional Champion...


Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne

They're the squad that will be travelling from the north, in case you are geographically-challenged. Or headed southbound, for a more accurate trip description. What they bring with them is a Summit League championship and a 34-14 record. The Mastadons (which are prehistoric elephants...if you aren't up on your extinct animals) are on a roll (if Mastadons could actually roll...) winning eight of their last nine games. They defeated North Dakota State to take the Summit League Championship tournament and get the automatic bid to the NCAA Big Softball Dance.

IPFW gets good production from Summit League Tournament MVP Ashleigh Bousquet, who hit .417 on the season with nine home runs and 42 RBI's. Inside the circle, Miranda Kramer is the ace of the pitching staff...carrying an impressive 1.82 ERA and 270 strikeouts in 180.2 innings of work.

It'll be the first meeting ever between Louisville and IPFW. We're hoping for a five inning, run-rule affair.  

UAB (University of Alabama-Birmingham

Yep, they're the squad that comes from the south and will be travelling northbound. See how quickly you catch on? The Blazers (named either after a type of fire or a type of dress jacket) got to the NCAA Tournament by receiving an at-large bid. UAB actually won the Conference USA regular season with a record of 19-4...but lost in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals to Marshall.

Caitlin Attifield leads the UAB hitters with a .367 average. She's scored 33 runs and stolen 23 bases. The powerbroker is Kristen McGrath with a team-best 12 roundtrippers and 39 RBI's.

UAB has an excellent group of hurlers. The "L" squad (Lannah Campbell, Lauren Webster and Leigh Streetman) combined for 432 strikeouts. Each pitcher won 12 games this season and UAB were 37-16 overall.

Louisiville and UAB were old C-USA foes from 2000-2005 and the Cards hold a 18-3 advantage in the series. Last time out, the two met in the FIU Combat Classic on Feb. 11, 2012...the Cards taking a 5-4 win. Maggie Ruckenbrod blasted two home runs and Katelyn "Mannie" Mann sent her first career four bagger over the fence in the win.

More please! Let's wake 'em up on Brandeis Street if these two match up on Saturday.

UCLA (University of California Los Angeles)

Isn't it a bit interesting that all three schools coming to Louisville are better known by their initials and are schools designated by the name of a state institution and then city?

Or maybe it isn't. These Bruins (a type of bear..to continue the history lessons) are travelling eastbound from the left coast. Unless they decide to take the Hawaii, Toyko, New Delhi, Paris and New York round trip to Louisville. That would have them going westbound and they'd probably be pretty tired when they got here if they went that way.

UCLA tied for 5th. in the strong PAC-12 Conference. They closed the season by winning five out of their last six games. There is no listing of a PAC 12 Softball Tournament,  so we guess they don't play one and we'll assume their bid was an at-large one. The Bruins went 37-18 overall and 10-14 in conference play.

The Californians bat .302 as a team and seem quite proficient in the long ball...blasting 82 of them so far this season. B.B. Bates blasted 24 of them, Ally Carda sent 16 over the wall and Stephany LaRosa gave out 15 souvenirs and led the team with a .378 batting average.

Carda also handles primary pitching duties...going 22-10, recording a 2.37 ERA and fanning 202 batters in 186.1 innings.

Louisville and UCLA have met once....back in 2004 in the Los Angeles NCAA Regional...with the Bruins winning 2-0.

They have 12 national championships to their credit, the most recent coming in 2010. It'll be Louisville's job to stop these bears on the path to their 13th...

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


UofL enters regional play with a 46-11 record. The Cards are ranked #11 in the USA Today Softball poll and #12 by ESPN.

Alicja Wolny leads the Cards with a .417 batting average and had 10 home runs and 52 RBI's. Katie Keller carries a .412 average and led Louisville with 12 fence clearers. She's scored 60 runs and driven home 54. Jordy Trimble adds a .385 average, scored 49 times and sent 25 base runners home.

In the circle, Caralisa Connell punched out a 25-4 record with a 2.20 ERA. Rachel LeCoq (21-7) has a excellent 1.88 ERA. The two have struck out 302 batters in 381 innings.

We hope for "good" Carl and "le gran Le Coq" over the weekend. And, no rain.

<<><><><>><><><><><><><><><><>><><><><><>><><><><><>>>

WE can talk UofL women's  basketball every day here at CARDINAL COUPLE without any problem. Check the link below that talks a little Shoni and Jude. (Thanks to Jenny for the 'find'...who says she only works here on Wednesdays and Saturdays?)

SHONI AND JUDE


<><<<><><><<><<>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Rutgers University has identified Sean Frazier and Julie Hermann as the two finalists for the Athletic Director job.

It seems, however, there is a major question about a decision in each candidates past duties. Hermann's goes back to 1997, when she was head volleyball coach at Tennessee. Frazier's stems from a sexual assault case in 2012.

Click the link below to get the details from nj.com:

Questions about Frazier and Hermann

Everything seems to have to have drama involved in it these days, doesn't it?  Sometimes, I'm ashamed to be associated with some yellow dog journalists. Assuming I am one...to begin with. Most days, I prefer to refer to myself as the ring-leader of the chimps. That's much more fun.  

That's when I'm not under the illusion that I'm Paulie Skynyrd and belting out "Gimme Three Steps" at karaoke to a dis-interested audience. 

We joke at how horrible I am at predictions on CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO. Therefore, I am predicting that Julie Hermann gets the job at Rutgers. This, then...will most certainly not happen and we will get to keep her here at UofL. Being selfish? You bet! We love the job she has done here and don't want to see her go.

I will close with this, and it was mentioned in the article. Why...after 16 years...is Julie interested in a head Athletic Director's job? Especially at a school that seems to be filled with more problems, failures and goof-ups than a Three Stooges comedy?

Nevertheless, we wish her the best and we'll know in a couple of days.

-Paulie

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE -- Softball Cards to host Regional

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville to host NCAA Softball Regional

- Hermann in top three candidates for Rutgers AD

This one fooled us, but it's a good fool. Louisville softball will host one of the sixteen NCAA Softball Regionals. The games begin Friday May 17th. Coming to the "Ville" are Indiana Purdue Ft. Wayne (32-14), University of Alabama-Birmingham (37-15) and UCLA (37-18).

It is the tenth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Cards and fourth opportunity to host a regional over the last five years. The Cards received a #15 seed and are currently 46-11.

Play begins at 5 p.m. Friday when UAB and UCLA square off. The Cards will play IPFW at appox. 7:30 p.m. Louisville head softball coach Sandy Pearsall talks about the event:

"We're excited to be at home again and we have a lot of great teams coming to play on our field and have the fan base that we have here, because there's nothing better than the fans we have at Louisville."

Tickets can be purchased on-line at the link below:

Louisville Softball Regional Tickets


You can also pick them up at the UofL Ticket Office at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium starting today through Friday at noon.

We discussed on our Saturday radio show the possibilities of Louisville getting a chance to host after losing to South Florida in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. You can hear the archived replay of CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO by clicking the link below:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO AND CRESCENT HILL RADIO

A wonderful opportunity for fans to see the Softball Cards in action at home! WE hope you'll join us at Ulmer Stadium to cheer on Sandy Pearsall's squad and we'll preview the games and competition in tomorrow's CARDINAL COUPLE. The schedule of events is listed below:

Louisville Regional - May 17-19 at Louisville, KY

FRIDAY GAMES

Game 1 - UAB vs. UCLA   5:00 p.m.
Game 2 - #15 seed Louisville vs. IPFW    7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY GAMES

Game 3 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2   2:00 p.m.
Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2        4:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4     7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY GAMES

Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5    1:00 p.m.
Game 7 (if needed) 3:30 p.m.

JULIE HERMANN A FRONT RUNNER?

After a weekend of interviews, three candidates...and one notable defection...have emerged in the Rutgers University search for an Athletic Director.

Thomas Boeh, Fresno State Athletics Director, who was considered one of the three top candidates for the position...has withdrawn his candidacy to be the next AD for the Scarlet Knights. Many considered him the top choice for the position.

That leaves Wisconsin deputy AD Sean Frazier and Louisville

executive senior associate AD Julie Hermann as the leaders in the clubhouse. Rutgers reportedly had exploratory interviews with eight potential candidates last week. The 26 person search committee allegedly identified Boeh as a finalist and tried to re-kindle his interest in the vacancy before he pulled his name out of the running.

The search committee was scheduled to meet to discuss the finalists before a recommendation would be forwarded to the university's Board of Governors, which is expected to hold a special meeting by Wednesday or Thursday of this week to vote on a official appointment.

We'll keep you posted on these developments as they occur.



-Paulie


--