Galt House Donates $3.5 Million to UofL Athletics -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Galt House Donates $3.5 Million to UofL Athletics

In a time of financial uncertainty for many the Galt House Hotel stepped up to the plate to knock one out of the park.  The Galt House Hotel generously donated $3.5 million to UofL Athletics.

The funds will go towards renovation and expansion of the Planet Fitness Kueber Center on Floyd Street.  It houses lacrosse, women's basketball, and men's basketball offices and facilities.

All $3.5 million will be paid over a 10-year period.  In return, UofL Athletics will host many special events such as the annual Football Kickoff and Basketball Tipoff Luncheons at the Galt House Hotel.  One of the suite levels at Cardinal Stadium will be renamed The Galt House Hotel Suite Level.

"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and support of the Galt House," said Vince Tyra.  "The sponsorship agreement avails us the to experience the amazing renovation of the hotel rooms and its amenities going forward.  The larger meeting space allows more supporters to experience some of our annual events for the first time.  The Schneider family has been long time supporters of the university and we are very fortunate to forge this mutually beneficial partnership for years to come."



This a great move for UofL as we questioned the financial stability of Athletics.  Earlier this summer UofL Athletics furloughed or let go several staff members due to budget issues surrounding COVID-19.  With the question of fall sports, especially football, up in the air the financial issues do not seem to be disappearing soon.

The funds from the Galt House Hotel will allow UofL to revamp the Kueber Center, which has been in need of remodeling.  It will be beneficial to lacrosse, women's basketball, and men's basketball.  Of course, as soon as we get a chance to explore the renovated building, which a time frame for completion has not been announced, we will gladly post pictures of the facility.

Personally, I would like to see a better balcony area for other student-athletes and staff can sit back and watch lacrosse matches from the Kueber Center.  Maybe they can even put up a better video board for lacrosse and attach it to the building?

It's nice to have some positive news out there in such dark times.


Manatee pounds Bradenton Lynx 9-3

A six-run fourth inning did the trick for the Manatee Squeeze yesterday in a 9-3 win over the Bradenton Lynx in FGCL Softball action. .

Trailing 1-0 after three innings, the Squeeze produced seven hits in the top of the fourth.. Cardinal Jordyn Wolfe reached on an error and scored early in the inning. Paige Schindler doubled with two outs to left field and drove in two runs in the huge inning.

Wolfe was 2-4 in the mid-morning game and scored two runs. Schindler went 1-3, her double a key hit for Manatee.

The win pushes Manatee to a 14-5 record. They sit in second place, 4-1/2 games behind the Myakka City River Mocs, (19-1) who also won yesterday -- 11-4 over the SUA Pioneers.


Hartlage Advances to Round Of 32

Louisville women's golf graduate student-athlete Lauren Hartlage (Elizabethtown, KY) fired an even-par 72 yesterday to advance to the round of 32 in the 118th Women's North & South Amateur Event in Pinehurst, NC.

The event switches to match play after two rounds of medal play. Hartlage is the #30 seed and will go up against #3 seed Sadie Engleman this morning in the "win and advance" format. Hartlage had a two-day score of 147 over Tuesday and Wednesday to make the cut.

Louisville golfer Margot Bechadergue missed making the cut with a second round 79.



Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

Hartlage, Bechadergue Compete In North/South Tournament -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDINAL WOMEN'S GOLFERS FINISH FIRST ROUND AT PINEHURST 

Two student-athletes from the University of Louisville women's golf squad are competing in the prestigious Women's North and South Amateur Tournament this week at Pinehurst Golf Course in North Carolina. 

Graduate student Lauren Hartlage and senior Margot Bechadergue are part of 120+ amateur golfers taking part in the tournament. 

After 18 holes on Tuesday, Hartlage is +3 over par and tied for 48th. place. She shot a 75 on Pinehurst Course #2. Bechadergue is one stroke back of Hartlage at +4 over par, firing a 76 on Pinehurst Course #4 . Bechadergue tees off at 8 a.m. this morning and will switch to Course 2 and Hartlage hits the tee box on Course 4 at 9:10 a.m.

Three golfers sit atop the standings at -4 under par after the first 18 holes. 

You can follow the live scoring and learn much more at:  https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2545237

We wish the best of luck and hope for a few birdies to our Cardinal golfers as they go into day two of the event !! 


MANATEE RUN-RULE IMPACT 

The Manatee Squeeze erupted for eight runs in the first two innings last night against the visiting Bradenton Impact and went on to a five-inning, 12-3 win in Florida Gulf Coast League action.

Louisville Softball student-athlete Jordyn Wolfe started for the Squeeze in right field and scored two runs, drove in a run, produced a single and received a walk in her two at bats. 

Cardinal Paige Schindler entered the circle to pitch in relief in the fourth inning and pitched two innings, allowing no runs, one hit, one walk and striking out two Impact batters. She also made a plate appearance and smacked a double to center in the bottom of the fourth inning that drove in Manatee's final two runs.

Manatee is now 13-5 on the season and remains in second place in the FGCL standings, 4-1/2 games back of the Myakka City River Mocs. The Squeeze take on the Bradenton Lynx in a rare Wednesday morning game today at 10 a.m.


have a wonderful Wednesday! Stay safe and smart. 

paulie
xxxxx

Softball Wins; Track and Field and Golf Busy -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Cards Come Back in Chestnut Hill

After handing Florida State their first conference series loss since 2012, Louisville softball was rewarded with a mid-week break before heading northeast for a three-game set with Boston College. In the first game of that series yesterday, Louisville saw the struggling hosts (13-24, 3-10) jump out to a 2-0 lead through four innings.

After holding everyone at 0 runs in the fifth, Louisville decided that they didn't want to lose to the Eagles. The Cards put up 5 runs in the top of the sixth inning and added another 4 in the top of the seventh for good measure. Boston College was unable to score anymore runs and a 2-0 lead turned into a 9-2 loss for the home team.

Megan Hensley got the start and was okay through her three innings. She allowed just one hit, but walked three and allowed a run. She was lifted at the beginning of the fourth for Taylor Roby. Roby allowed a run as soon as she entered, but also allowed just that one run and one hit. After Roby bookended a strikeout in the sixth inning with a pair of four pitch walks, Danielle Watson came in to get the last out of the sixth with runners on first and second. Presumably to save her arm for the rest of the series, Watson was pulled after her one out performance with the Cards holding a 9 run lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Roby finished the game out with a 1-2-3 inning and that was all she wrote.

Though the Cardinals' offense didn't cross the plate until the sixth inning, a Louisville batter reached base in every inning prior except for the fourth. All told, the Cards would finish with nine hits and draw four walks. However, they did strike out six times collectively and left eight runners on base.

Louisville was not led by the usual suspects, as Maddy Newman and Charley Butler picked up 6 of the 9 RBIs. Newman finished 2-3 at the plate and drew a walk, while all of Butler's RBIs came off of a bases loaded double. Kyra Snyder also had a big day at the plate, going 3-4 and knocking in a run. Sidney Melton had an unusual day to forget, going just 1-4 at the plate and drawing a walk, but leaving 4 on base. 

The Cards will look to take the series and set up a potential sweep in game two of the series today at 1PM. Louisville will hope to have a bit more consistent bats in today's game. The game is listed on ACC Network Extra, so if you aren't down at the Waterfront for Thunder Over Louisville, tune in at home. If you are down at the Waterfront and have unlimited data, feel free to tune in on your phone, or keep up on Twitter.

Golf Holds Strong but Falls Short

The Cards are down in Georgia for the Liz Murphey Collegiate Invitational and are taking on tough squads from mostly the SEC. Louisville dropped a pair of team matches yesterday in an individual match play format to a pair of ranked SEC teams.

The first came against #6 Arkansas, with Louisville earning a pair of wins from Mairead Martin and Lauren Hartlage, but ultimately falling 3-2 overall. The second loss came after Louisville battled to an all-square finish with wins from Margot Bechadergue and Olivia Cason and a draw from Delaney Shah. Ultimately, Florida was granted the win on overall margin of victory after an unfortunate 6 and 5 finish from Lauren Hartlage. Louisville got back on the course this morning just after 8AM.

Strong Opening for T&F in Louisville Invitational

Louisville swept the hammer throw in both competitions yesterday and had three finishers in the top six on the women's side. Makenli Forrest took home first place and was followed by Carsen Cassell and Halee Hudson in fifth and sixth. Forrest's first place throw was nearly 10 meters further than Cassell's fifth. No other results from the women's side were listed for yesterday, but the competition continues today.

Ionescu Takes Wooden Award

The Cards WBB star Asia Durr was one of the finalist for the Wooden Award, which is player of the
year, but the honor went to Oregon's Sabina Ionescu. The junior decided early in the month to return to school instead of trying her luck in the WNBA Draft.

Ionescu winning was a surprise to many, including Ionescu -- who sat there open-mouthed in amazement when her name was called. Many thought Durr or possibly nominee Megan Gustafson from Iowa would get the nod.

Just goes to show that we don't always get what we want, but Durr had a huge season and it is an honor just to be named in the final five.  The other finalists were Tearia McCowan and Napheesa Collier. Jeff Walz was in L.A. with Durr for the awards ceremony.

Durr, who was selected #2 in the recent WNBA Draft, is headed to New York to play for the Liberty and many experts think it'll be a great fit for her.

Someone make sure and notify Matt Bevin.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

As Jared mentioned yesterday, he's out of the studio today, but we still have plenty of show to bring you today leading up to the Thunder Over Louisville Air Show this afternoon. Paulie, Jeff, Daryl, and I will talk plenty of softball, lacrosse, WNBA draft, and more on this week's Cardinal Couple Radio Hour. As always, the show begins at 11AM on WCHQ FM and will be available on 100.9 FM, wchqfm.com, the WCHQ App, and on Facebook Live. Tune in and join us, won't you?

LINK: www.wchqfm.com

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-