Sofftball heads to WKU -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

 SOFTBALL TAKES 20-7 RECORD TO WKU FOR MID-WEEK MATCHUP

The Softball Cards step out of conference play to travel to Bowling Green for a Wednesday affair against WKU . 

The Cards return from a weekend battle against Clemson where they lost Friday and Saturday and won Sunday against the Tigers. WKU is 10-6 on the season and 3-3 in C-USA.

It'll be a 7 p.m. start and will be available on ESPN+  

WKU is 13-0 at home this season and comes off a 7-1 road loss at Jacksonville State. They dropped the three game series at Jax St. and, in case you were wondering, this Jacksonville State squad is in Alabama..not Florida. 

The Cards lead the series 22-4 against the softball Hiilltoppers but WKU is mising only one starter from last year and, unlike Louisville, they are a fence swinging bunch that has 31 home runs on the season. compared to the Cards 15. 

The Toppers pitching staff is faring quite well...with a EPA of 2.19. Western KY has won seven times this season in five-inning contests. 

They are batting .341 through 25 games and were on a win streak of 13 games at home before losing to Jax.St.

We'll have the recap for you, plus the WBB preview for Ist round Cards WBB NCAA action here tomorrow. 

paulie

CARDS SOFTBALL RUN RULES BELLARMINE 10-2 -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CARDS HIT EARLY AND OFTEN IN THE BATTLE OF EASTERN PARKWAY

On a picture perfect night for softball on the Belknap campus. Louisville Softball touched Bellarmine for six runs in the first two innings and got the 10-2 win in the Battle of Eastern Parkway -- softball style. 

Bri Despines drove in Chelsea Mack and Easton Lotus with a first inning single to get the Cards on the board and a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Bellarmine responded with a Kendall Gaddie home run in the top of the second to cut the Cards lead in half...but Louisville struck back with four second inning runs...Easton Lotus' two RBI triple being the big hit in the inning. It was 6-1 and UofL was definitely in control of the contest. 

The Knights would be held scoreless in the top half of the thrd and fourth innings, and the Cards would add three runs in the the bottom of the fourth, to build a 9-1 lead. 

(Photo courtesy of Bellarmine)

Bellarmine did get their second home run of the contest in the top of the fifth inning to make it 9-2 but Louisville would get the run rule game ender in the bottom of the fifth...with Chelsea Mack singling home Jordan Williams for the 10-2 final score.

And, so..the Cards improve to a 4-2 mark on the season. Jayden Gohs gets the win to go 1-0 on the season in three innings of work. Ryann Sanders pitched two innings of relief. 

Next up, Louisville heads to Fort Myers, FL for another early season tournament...facing Buffalo in their opener on Friday, Feb 20th. 

paulie

Cards SB wins marathon contest vs. Irish 4-3 -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 LOOKADOO SINGLES HOME GAME WINNER

Louisville Softball went 14 innings with Notre Dame Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium before they broke a 3-3 tie when pinch hitter Camryn Lookadoo brought home shortstop Taylor Monroe to win it for the Cards in the bottom of the 14th inning. 

"Look at you, Lookadoo !!"

Lookadoo, a sophomore that played at UK last season, hit a drive to left center that Monroe was easily able to score on and capture the victory thriller for Holly Aprile's Cards. A lot of credit for this win also goes to the Cards fourth pitcher of the contest, sophomore Lindsey Mullen, who pitched 6.1 innings of no runs allowed and only two hits  given up.. 

The Cards drew first blood in this one in the second inning when catcher Bri Despines scored on a Monroe sacrifice fly. 

Louisville allowed a ND run in the top of the fourth inning on a Rachel Allen four bagger but UofL countered in the bottom of the fourth with a run when Monroe drove home Despines. 

Notre Dame tied it up in the top of the fifth with a home run from Kaia Cortez

The Irish grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning, when Caroline O'Brien singled and scored Jane Kronenberger . Louisville kept the contest going... though, when they drove home Chelsea Mack on a Char Lorenz double. 

The Cards go to 16-7 with the win and 2-1 in the ACC while Notre Dame drops to 10-11 and 1-2.

POST GAME LINDSEY MULLEN

POST GAME CARMYN LOOKADOO

(Photos of the game and celebration by Jared Anderson) 

CURTIS FRANKLIN WINS CARDINAL COUPLE ACC TOURNAMENT PICK 'EM

Curtis Franklin

It was a three-way tie for first place in the annual Pick 'Em contest, with Franklin,  Case Hoskins and Kenny S. all going 10-4 ...so we went to a tiebreaker -- total number of points scored in the final game.  Curtis had 127...so he was the closest to the final total of 138. Case had 162 to get second closest to the 76-62 Duke win over NC State, 

Only one contestant had Duke winning it all...your fearless leader Paulie. Eight contestants were a game back at 9-5..so, it was a real race to the wire. 

I contacted Curtis to notify him on the win....his words: 

" I am really happy I won this thing, after entering it for so many years. I felt good about my picks and despite having a NCST vs. Notre Dame final in my bracket, I built up enough early wins to hold off the challengers. Thanks to Paulie and Case for running this tournament!!" 

Curtis recently moved back from Iowa to take a job in New Albany, but  "I never stopped reading you guys and remained a Cards fan".

paulie

Noles SB Downs Cards 2-1 to sweep series -- Cards get #4 ranking in ACC Tournament -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

SANDERCOCK SHUTS DOWN CARDS OFFENSE SUNDAY

The normally active Louisville bats were silenced on Sunday (sorry about the quasi-Derby reference) in the third game of the series at Tallahassee. .And, Cardinals batters would probably be just fine if they didn't see Kathryn Sandercock in the circle anymore this season, as the grad student allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings to go to 21-3 on the season. Sandercock was credited with all three wins over Louisville this weekend... her own "triple crown" on Derby weekend.  

The Cards just might have to face "Kat" one more time, though, being the #4 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, but we'll get into those ramifications a little later  on in today's column

Louisville got what would normally be considered a good "in the circle" performance from Alyssa Zabala, who allowed the two runs on just four hits in the six innings she pitched. The Cards just couldn't put bat on ball and send it where there were no fielders until the top of the seventh inning. 

Daisy Hess led off the visitors half pf the inning with a triple to right field. Hannah File sent a sacrifice fly to center to score Hess and cut the FSU lead to 2-1, but could not do anymore damage at the plate after that. It was the only hit Sandercock allowed in her time in the circle.

The Cards had their chances early. An Easton Lotus single and Sarah Gordon walk in the first inning gave the Cards two base runners but the Cards were to remain on the bags the rest of the inning. And, in the third, Korbe Otis single and then got to third on a FSU fielding error...but did not get advanced to home. 

As for the Noles, Zabala did allow FSU a home run from Josie Muffley in the third inning and another run in the fifth when Mack Leonard singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly. 

The Cards end the regular season with a 35-17 record and 16-7 in ACC play. 

LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL BEGINS ACC TOURNAMENT PLAY ON THURSDAY AS A #4 SEED vs. VA TECH. 

Louisville is one of ten teams that will participate in the ACC Tournament at Notre Dame and will open play Thursday against #5 seed Virginia Tech. 

The Cards and Hokies will play in the second game of four on Thursday....starting around 1:30 PM. If the Cards win they would advance to the semifinals to face either FSU or #8 seed Virginia or #9 seed Syracuse.  The format is single elimination and all the games, beginning Weds, when #7 seed and #10 seeds and #8 and #9 seeds square off, will be shown on the ACC Network. 

paulie 

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Life goes on

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Final thoughts on Maryland loss

- Shoni in 3-point contest

- Softball falls to Cats

- Keller one of 10 selected

- Buy our wares


END OF WBB SEASON NOT THE END OF THE WORLD



I will share the story with you of Jeff Walz taking the podium after the Maryland loss. He sat down behind the table, looked at the assembled media, observed the somber demeanor on most of the faces and commented: 

"Hey, it's OK. Nobody died."

And with those words, we put to rest the 2013-14 season. He's right...no one died...although we did have a very scary event with Nita in November. 

Nobody has died. The Cardinal spirit and pride is very much alive.

Louisville gave it their best effort against a very good Maryland team on Tuesday night. They fought to the very end. They impressed an entire nation with their efforts and the magic that is Shoni Schimmel. This team lost only five games all season and two of the three teams that beat them are still dancing. The Louisville fanbase for WBB is the most supportive, loyal, enthusiastic and arguably largest in women's college basketball. From sea to shining sea. 

We'll always remember Shelby -- one of the
original "attack" Yorkies for UofL WBB

The Cards are seeing four great, productive and wonderful-to-be-around student athletes graduate and move on. Hard to let go of Asia, Shoni, Tia and Nita...but it's time for them to go out into the world and get on with the next phases of their lives. We will always remember...just like we have with Angel and CB. With Becky and Keisha. With Tise and Dez. With Shelby and Mo. 

They gave us some unforgettable moments. 

Life goes on. Ten incredible women return to pick up the banner and run with it. Five very promising freshmen join them to find their place in what is Louisville WBB. 

As for me, I find myself already anticipating the 2014-15 schedule. The move to the ACC. Being in the KFC YUM! Center again and hearing Al Greener's Pep Band. Hitting the media buffet and pouring over the stats, the reports and seeing the crowds. Feeling that adrenalin rush and surge of excitement when the Cards take the court.

Nobody has died. Life and hope springs eternal for the Red and Black.

And...I can't wait to see an alumni game with Tia, Nita, Asia and Shoni going up against Becky, Tise, Dez, CB and Shelby. Maybe we can even get Angel stateside for one of these eventually...

Here's a nice "happy" clip that chronicles the "sisters" journey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEirn9qFgAk&index=3&list=FL8N0wbxvGOpasetzV1qSnXw








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SHONI'S COLLEGE CAREER NOT OVER JUST YET

University of Louisville's Shoni Schimmel will compete in the State Farm College 3-Point Championship today in Moody Coliseum on SMU's campus. 

She's the third CARDS WBB participant all-time. Becky Burke and Jill Morton both took part in it and were both runners-up when they did.

Shoni's competition?

Myisha Goodwin-Coleman - NC State
Jordan Hooper - Nebraska
Tricia Liston - Duke
Keena Mays - SMU
Courtney Moses - Purdue
Kara Pollinger - Navy
Kim mulkey  oops...Odyssey Sims - Baylor

Shake 'em, Sho.

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SOFTBALL SHUT OUT IN LEXINGTON

UofL softball travelled to Lexington Wednesday night to face the UK Wildcats. I'm not sure if I can keep dealing with these UofL losses over the past several days...especially to Big Blew...but the Cats prevailed of Sandy Pearsall's players 5-0. 

The Cards gave up runs in the first, third and fifth innings. Louisville managed only three hits against Wildcat hurler Kelsey Nunley. Kelsi Jones had two of those.

The Cards threatened in the visitor half of the third...Jones singling with one out and moving to second on a Whitney Arion fielders choice. Successive walks to Katie Keller and Brittany Duncan loaded the bags for Maryssa Becker (normally a good thing) but she grounded out to end the threat and the inning.

UofL heads to Tampa for three against the USF Bulls this weekend. Maybe the sun and surf will re-energize the Louisville bats. They'll probably run into All-American potential pitcher Sara Nevins down there..whose very, very opposed to giving up hits and runs.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (April 2, 2014) – The University of Louisville’s Katie Keller was selected as one of ten finalists for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award for softball.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

Keller, a senior second baseman from Livermore, Calif., is the first player in program history to be selected as a finalist for the award. The four-year starter is a 2013 All-America second team, two-time All-Great Lakes Region and three-time all-conference selection. She was named to the 2014 Top 50 Watch List for USA Softball’s Player of the Year and was a Top 25 Finalist last season. 

She leads the team with a .382 batting average and 32 runs and is currently ranked in the top five in career runs, RBI, doubles and walks at UofL.

The communications major has been named to the Athletic Director's honor roll (3.0 or higher for the semester) three times and was a member of the Dean's List. Following her junior season, when she earned All-America honors on the field, she was also selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.

Finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced in February. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award Website through May 12. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series^® in Oklahoma City May 29 through June 4.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 

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Finally, we DO have the Cardinal Couple T-Shirts in. We are offering these at a mere $12 to help fund the website and radio show. We've been fortunate to sell a few (and thanks for donating to get those !!) but we still have some left. 

We'll send you one if you donate $12 or more to us through. Pay-Pal. We'll do the same if you send us a donation check to CARDINAL COUPLE. Information is on the right-side of the site. 

M. L.XL and XXL available. 

It's a good-looking and comfy, heavy cotton T-shirt and one would look GREAT on you. Cardinal Red Color with impressive black logos and lettering. 

We could use the donations. I took a chance and sunk a sizeable amount of the Cardinal Couple coffers into the design and purchase of these. 

Don't make me look anymore foolish that I usually do. Please donate and let us send you one...

Send your check to:

Cardinal Couple
PO BOX 91521
Louisville, KY 40291

CARDINAL COUPLE IS A NON-PROFIT, 501-C LLC. YOUR DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. YOUR MONEY GOES TO PAY THE BILLS ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING CARDINAL COUPLE LLC. WE DRAW NO SALARY AND OUR STAFF IS VOLUNTEER-BASED. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US.

paulie

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE - WBB, Lacrosse get Saturday wins.

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Balanced scoring, nine threes lead Louisville to win

-Lacrosse knocks off #18 Denver 12-7

The University of Louisville  women's basketball team recorded their 28th. win of the season in Cincinnati Saturdday afternoon..dispensing of the Bearcats 75-51 in Fifth Third Arena.

Tia Gibbs led the UofL scorers with 17 points and four Cards hit for double figures in the game.

The Cards jumped out to an early 6-0 lead over UC thanks to a couple of threes from Shoni Schimmel and Nita Slaughter and built a 14-5 lead after Slaughter drained her third three of the half at the 13:06 mark.

Playing on senior day...UC wasn't ready to let go of the contest just yet. The Bearcats erupted on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes and grabbed a 21-19 advantage when senior forward Jeanise Randolph connected on a jumper with 9:42 to go in the half.

Louisville had seen enough of any upset attempts. The Cards responded with a 13-3 run to grab a 32-24 edge after Tia Gibbs sank a couple of free throws with five minutes remaining in the first half. Louisville's largest lead of the first twenty minutes came when Shoni Schimmel drilled two free throws to put Louisville up 37-26 with 78 seconds to play in the first half.

The Cards took a 37-29 lead into the half...Slaughter's four threes paced the Cards for 12 first half points, Gibbs had 11 points and two threes in the books and Shoni added seven for Louisville. 

The Cards were having trouble stopping Randolph (14 pts.) and Alyesha Lovett (11 points). Chelsea Jamison had UC's other four points of the half. Jamison was also whistled for a technical foul early in the first half for going after Asia Taylor after a battle for a loose ball.


UofL steadily pulled away from UC in the final stanza, getting their first 10 points from Asia and Sara Hammond to go up 47-38 with four minutes gone in action. That lead jumped to 54-40 after a Gibbs three at the 13:15 mark .

Emmonnie Henderson pushed Louisville to a 61-42 margin after scoring inside and hitting a free throw with 9:20 to play. By then, Walz was substituting liberally...getting Denies, Breedlove and "E" extensive playing time. A-Tayy connected on a nice inside feed from Jude to make it 66-44 Cards with 7:18 showing on the clock.

Shoni's second three of the contest gave Louisville a 71-49 advantage with four minutes left in the game.  Bria Smith's jumper and two "E" free throws closed out the Cardinal scoring for the 24-point win.

Louisville was led by Tia's 17 points. Nita finished with 14, Asia scored ten second half points to end up with 12 and Shoni added 10 points to complete the double-figure Cards. Sara Hammond was good for eight, "E" and Bria had five each and Jude rounded out the scoring with four. Deines, Breedlove and Walton also played but did not score.

Randolph led all scorers with 22 points.

It was a good, if not spectacular win for Louisville in front of a fan base that was almost equally divided between UofL and UC fans. A tune-up for the business that lies ahead Monday night in the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m. A chance for Louisville to get quite a few different combinations on the floor and test different defenses and offensive sets. A brief, light-hearted comedy before the feature film.

Be there.



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Louisville Lacrosse pulls off the home win over #18 Denver at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium Saturday afternoon 12-7. Junior forward Faye Brust led Kellie Young's squad with four goals while handing the Pioneers their first loss of the season.

Kellie Young was impressed with the Cardinal defense:

"Our defense played awesomely. They were great on ball. We had great doubling, great sliding and great covering of the cutters. Denver had a hard time finding open people."

(Wait a sec...was that Young or Walz describing the action?)

After Denver opened with a score, Kaylin Morissette tossed home two in a row and Brust got her first to put Louisville put 3-1. Scores from Nikki Boltja and Brust kept Louisville in the lead 5-3 and Cortnee Daley scored close-in to give the Cards a 6-3 first half advantage.

Denver opened up the final 30 minutes with a score but Brust countered to keep the Cardinal lead at three. Two Denver scores within a 30 second time-frame had it close at 7-6 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Pioneers would get no closer. Four unanswered UofL scores from Carissa Corbett, Boltja, Morissette and Jamie Redding put it out of reach at 11-6. The Pioneers would score for the final time with eight minutes left. Brust's fourth goal made the final score 12-7 with less than a minute remaining.

Louisville (4-1) heads to Columbus, OH for action against The Ohio State University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

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Softball's Saturday games in California were cancelled.