Softball Hosts Senior Weekend -- HVL to LSU -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

We have finally reached the beginning of the weekend! The weekend brings several UofL sporting events on the women's side. Track and Field and Softball. We'll look at Softball today, plus news on a former WBB player here at the Ville. 

Softball Hosts Boston College for Senior Weekend

Louisville softball will play at Ulmer Stadium for the final time this season with a three-game series against Boston College this weekend. The Cards are set to play at 6:00 Friday, 2:00 Saturday, and 12:00 Sunday.

The Cards enter the weekend 32-14. Their 13-4 conference record places them third in the ACC.

For Louisville, five seniors will be recognized on Senior Day, which will be held before Saturday's game. Taylor Roby (pitcher), Hannah File (first base), Makayla Hurst (pinch hitter), Taja Felder (pitcher), and Elana Ornelas (third base) will be recognized.

Boston College comes into the weekend 21-25 on the year. The Eagles have had a down year and have struggled both offensively and defensively. 

Nicole Giery powers the way with a .307 batting average, the only player on the BC roster above .300. As a whole, Boston College averages .239 at the plate. Giery and Hannah Slike are both above 40 hits on the year at 46 and 41, respectively.

Abby Dunning and Susannah Anderson have split the bulk of the work in the circle. The former carries a 3.60 ERA and a team-high 10 wins while the later has a 5.43 ERA and seven wins. Dunning has struck out 134 batters..

The Cards lead the series 10-6. Tonight's game will be on ACCNX.

Hailey Van Lith Commits to LSU

Former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith announced her commitment to LSU. After spending three seasons with Louisville that featured a pair of Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four, Van Lith will utilize her final two years of eligibility with the Tigers. She is part of the last class to be allotted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19.

Fans and media had mixed responses to the announcement of her leaving Louisville and then finding out yesterday's news. I'm a bit on the disappointed side of how everything transpired, but have turned my attention back to Louisville in excitement for next season.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast Resumes

After taking Thunder Over Louisville Saturday off, we will be back with the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. While Daryl will be unavailable, it sounds promising to have Paulie, Jeff, Case, and myself ready to go.

We will be taking next Saturday, May 6, off. It has been traditional for us to take a break from the former radio and current podcast off in celebration of the Kentucky Derby.

Happy Friday and Go Cards!

Jared

Softball Splits Double Header -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Cards Break No. 7 FSU's 16-game Win Streak

Due to the schedule change, Louisville and FSU got a double header underway yesterday around 3:00 PM. While the Cards looked like they might make a game of that first matchup for the first few innings, it was ultimately a game to forget as the Cards fell 10-0 in seven innings. To their credit, Louisville avoided a mercy rule, but just narrowly, as they trailed 7-0 after six. The Cards managed only two hits and a walk on offense, while giving up two errors and 12 hits on the way to the Seminoles' ten runs. Fortunately, there was another game to cleanse the palate.

Taylor Roby started in the circle in the second game for the Cards and put up another glowing performance. She opened the game with a strikeout and never really looked back, despite an inning opening error in the third. Her 1-2-3 first inning set the stage for the Louisville offense to jump on top of a strong FSU squad and Carmyn Greenwood did just that. She led off the bottom half of the first inning with a solo shot to left field. After Maddy Newman struck out, Roby and Makayla Hurst put a pair of runners on base with back-to-back singles, but a strikeout and a pop out ended the threat.

The Noles and Cardinals both went 3-and-out in the second which led to that inning-opening error I mentioned in the third. Jenna Servi skied a throw to first from third which allowed the runner to waltz to second base with nobody out. Roby went to work trying to limit the damage and hold onto Louisville's lead, but it wasn't quite meant to be. Three straight groundouts would have been enough to end it, except for the fact that FSU's second baseman was quick and the balls were all to the wrong spot. The first out advanced the runner to third and the next brought her home. 1-1.

Louisville responded with a run of their own in the third, and it was again Carmyn Greenwood setting things up. Greenwood opened the inning with a base hit and sprinted down to second shortly after. Maddy Newman then hit a ball right at the shortstop, freezing Greenwood but allowing Newman to get on base. Infield singles count the same. Roby, uncharacteristically, popped out to third on the first pitch, but Hurst put the ball in play, and good things can happen when you do that. A grounder to the third baseman in the gap could have been a double play, but an errant throw from the second baseman not only allowed Hurst to pull in safely at first base, but it also gave Greenwood the opportunity to scamper home. Charley Butler singled, but a strikeout ended the inning. 2-1 Cards. 

That final run would have been all that Louisville needed. Roby was fantastic, as we saw last week, and she allowed just three more FSU baserunners over the final four innings on two walks and a single. One runner advanced to second, but it was with two outs and the threat was short-lived. Despite not needing anymore runs, the Cards decided to grab some anyway. Former Cardinal Danielle Watson returned to Ulmer for the first time yesterday, and, in the first game, she was sharp. In the second game, not as much. She entered in the bottom of the fourth and retired the first five batters she saw, giving her one out in the bottom of the sixth, with Florida State still just one run back. 

She followed those five consecutive outs with a pair of walks. Celene Funke stepped in, said thank you very much for the baserunners, and fired a double down the left field line to move everyone up two bases. After a strikeout, it appeared Watson may escape with just one added run, but that brought Carmyn Greenwood back up. Greenwood has been one of Louisville's most consistent offensive players, and she continue that last night, sending a single to right field to plate two and give the Cards a 5-1 lead. Roby came back for the top of the seventh and gave the Noles a strikeout, flyout, lineout inning and that was that. 

Louisville knocked off their second top-25 team of the past week, but we'll see if they can continue any of the momentum from this one. Despite being just two games under .500 after their win over Duke last week, the Cards are now six games adrift and need a lifeline. Another big boost or two with wins over FSU could be nice. They'll have today off to prepare for the final two games of the series as inclement weather in the forecast rescheduled today's games earlier this week. The two teams are back in action at 12PM tomorrow on the ACC Network.

Check out Jared's interview with Coach Aprile postgame here: Holly Aprile vs FSU 4.23.21

Field Hockey Could Be Set for NCAA

UNC won their fourth straight game in overtime yesterday when they narrowly escaped Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons were vying for the ACC's automatic qualifying bid and took the Tarheels to two overtime periods before the golden goal session ended on a penalty stroke for UNC. UNC was going to get into the tournament no matter what, but if they had lost yesterday's game, Louisville may have been in trouble. By staking their claim to the AQ, an at-large bid remains open for Louisville, who should be squarely in now. The NCAA selection for the tournament is tomorrow, with play beginning next week.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

I'm out this week but that shouldn't stop everyone else from bringing you the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics. There's softball, volleyball, field hockey, and more to talk about this week so be sure to tune in to the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour. This week's podcast will be a little late, but you can find the live show on at 11AM on the Cardinal Couple YouTube channel and the show is available to replay there as well. 

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-

Cards Softball beats Bellarmine 8-1 -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CARDS HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN WIN OVER KNIGHTS

The Louisville Softball squad found their bats and exploded for eight runs on ten hits last night in Ulmer Stadium -- downing the Bellarmine Knights 8-1.

In the first "Battle of Eastern Parkway" since the Knights joined the A-Sun Conference and Division I Athletics, Louisville got home runs from Makaya Hurst and Carmyn Greenwood in the seven-run win. Starter Taylor Roby and Jen Leonhardt combined for a six hits allowed, and a one run performance from the circle to even the Cards record out to 7-7 and drop the Knights to 4-8.

Louisville started the contest in a big way with Greenwood tripling in the bottom of the first inning, but was picked off at third by an alert throw from Knights catcher Sydney Young and Louisville did not get on the board in the opening inning.

 

The Cards struck for a run in the second, and that run came from the bat of Hurst, The first baseman from St Louis, MO sent a towering blast to center field that easily cleared the fence and probably startled some of the patrons viewing the contest from the outfield berm. It was 1-0 Cards after two innings. 

Roby retired the Bellarmine batters in top of the third, after allowing an opening walk and UofL added three more runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the third frame. After Maddy Newman started the inning with a single to left, the older Greenwood sister (Carmyn) blasted an ball down the left field line for two RBI's  to make it 3-0 Cards. Jordyn Wolfe followed with a triple to left and that closed the book on Bellarmine starting pitcher Carson Goatley. Kaylee Terral entered the circle for the Knights, but threw a wild pitch that allowed Wolfe to cross the plate. The Cards would touch Terral for a single (Roby) and draw a walk (Rebecca Chung) but a Cassady Greenwood fly out to center got the Knights out of the inning. After three innings, the Cards held a 4-0 lead. 

Roby allowed a walk and single in the top of the fourth but the Knights could not plate either of the two runners.  In the bottom of the inning, the Cards added two more runs -- on a Taryn Weddle walk, Maddy Newman single and two out, two RBI single from Wolfe. Going into the top of the fifth, UofL was comfortably in charge 6-0. 

Jen Leonhardt assumed pitching duties in the fifth after Roby delivered a four-inning, four hits allowed and two strikeout performance. Leonhardt struggled a bit at the start with the top of the Bellarmine batting order, allowing a single to left by Grace Werner and RBI double to Knights second baseman Hannah Webb. She quickly regained control, though, and struck ou the next three Knights batters to end the BU part of the inning. The Cards responded  with two more runs in the home half of the fifth when Leonhardt started things with a single. After Cas Greenwood reached on a hit-by-pitch offering from Terral, Weddle drove home two more Louisville runs with a single up the middle. That bumped the score to 8-1 Cards. 

Leonhardt allowed a walk and single in the top of the sixth, but the Knights couldn't plate either runner...Leonhardt recording the final two out by striking out the Knights plate visitors.  The Cards sent three to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but they went down in order, with two groundouts and a swinging strike out. 

Bellarmine had one more chance to score in the top of the seventh, but Leonhardt retired the side in order. Your final:  Louisville 8 - Bellarmine 1

A beautiful, balmy night for Softball last night at Ulmer for the Cards vs. Knights and some impressive pitching from both Roby and Leonhardt.  

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

Head Louisville Softball coach Holly Aprile spoke about the win after the contest: 

APRILE ON CARDS WIN OVER BELLARMINE

Up next, The Cards were scheduled to play Valparaiso on Thursday, but that one has been postponed until Sunday due to Valpo travel issues. Louisville does welcome in Western Kentucky for the Red and Black Challenge on Saturday as well, but, we'll keep an eye on the weather and changes could occur if the expected rain alters action. We'll update you on any changes here at your #1 source for the joy and excitement of UofL womens' athletics.

(Special thanks to UofL Softball S,I,D Lori Korte for sending the Aprile audio and to JAred Anderson for today's photos) 

Have a wonderful Wednesday 

paulie

Softball Falls at Bama, Women's Golf in Moon Invitational -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

BAMA TAKES TWO FROM SOFTBALL CARDS 

The Louisville Softball squad began their 2021 season with a trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Sunday -- facing the #8 ranked Crimson Tide team in a double header. The Cards fell 5-0, 4-0 to Bama.  The teams played in 39 degree weather, for the opening pitch,  at Bama's Rhodes Stadium on campus. 

GAME ONE: 5-0 ALABAMA 

Taylor Roby drew the start for Louisville in the pitching circle and the Crimson Tide touched her for three first inning runs on four singles. In addition to Roby , the Cards starters were:  Celene Funke in center, Maddy Newman at second, Carmyn Greenwood in left, Taryn Weddle as the designated hitter, Cassady Greenwood behind the plate, Charley Butler in right, Madison Ciaccio at first, Sydney Bickel and Jenna Servi at third. 

Claire Jenkins' two RBI single made the score 3-0 after one.  Roby would go three innings for the Cards, allowing an additional run in the bottom of the third when Alabama scored on a groundout with a runner in scoring position. Roby faced 17 batters during her time in the circle, allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three.

Jen Leonhardt relieved Roby to start the fourth inning allowed a single to Elyssa Brown and then a double to lead off the inning by KB Soles that scored Brown, to make it 5-0. Leonhardt blanked the Crimson Tide the rest of the game, going three innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three, while facing 12 batters. 

The Cards managed just one hit against UofA hurler Montana Fouts, a Leonhardt single -- and Fouts struck out 11 Cardinals. 

GAME TWO:  ALABAMA  4 - LOUISVILLE 0 

Louisville started Leonhardt in the circle for game two, and didn't switch up the starters too much from the first game, putting Makayla Hurst at first base.  

The squads battled through 2-1/2 scoreless innings before' Bama got on the board in the bottom of the third, with a RBI ground out scoring Elyssa Brown .  Louisville head coach Holly Aprile brought in freshman pitcher Gabby Holloway to relieve in the fourth inning, after Leonhardt allowed a two-run homer and RBI single. Leonhardt finished her session allowing three runs on two hits, while walking two and facing 14 batters. 

Holloway gave the Cards three solid innings of pitching to close out the game, allowing just one run on three hits. Alabama had just five hits in the second game. 

Louisville had three hits in the second game, two of them by junior transfer from Utah, Hurst. The Cards did  have bases loaded opportunities to score in the third and fifth innings, but coild not push a run across the plate. 

Louisville is scheduled to play next in an ACC pod weekend, in Raleigh, NC -- where they'll face Virginia and the Wolfpack. 

WOMEN'S GOLF

The Louisville women's golf squad opened their 2021spring campaign hosting the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida yesterday and Hana Ryskova had a strong first round for the Cards, with a 3-under-par 69 at the Duran Golf Club. 

The Cards ended the day in 8th place out of 15 squads on the first day of the three-day event.  Lauren Hartlage finished with an even-par 72, Mairead Martin fired a 1-over-par 73 -- while Agustina Gomez-Cisterna carded a 76 and Margot Bechaderque ended with a 79. 

The Cards finished the day with a combined two-over-par 290, which puts them ten strokes back of first-round leader South Carolina. 

Play resumes today at 8:10 a.m. 

ACC WBB

Just three games in ACC WBB play yesterday: 

-- Wake Forest downed Clemson 72-65.  Ivana Raca led four Demon Deacons in double figures with 20 points. 

-- North Carolina got a win over Pitt 81-72. Center Janelle Bailey totaled 22 points and 10-11 free throw shooting for the Tar Heels. 

-- FSU won the battle of Florida yesterday, beating Miami 67-59. The Seminoles built a 35-21 first half lead and went on to improve their record to 8-5 overall, 7-5 in the ACC.  

                                                       ----------------------------

Have a safe Monday -- the snow is the story in Louisville today and the roads are already rough as of 9 a.m., with more on the way.Stay in if you can! 

paulie