Invites continue for WBB Cards...Softball vs. NC State today! -- Thursday Cardinal Couple

MOORE, DURR, HINES-ALLEN HEADED TO TRIALS

Don't let the headline scare you. The trio of UofL WBB players haven't been brought up on charges (although they've been know to draw a few charges) and are not consulting with defense attorneys (although they could always use a solid defense when an opponent has the ball). 

Myshia Hines-Allen, Asia Durr and Mariya Moore will be spending the next few weeks participating in basketball trials to try and make USA and FIBA Basketball squads.

Durr and Moore have accepted invitations to attend the 2015 USA Basketball Women's U-19 World Championship Team trials. They'll be there with 32 other hopefuls from May 14-17 hoping to make the 12 player roster. 

Hines-Allen will be battling against 53 other players who will be attending the 2015 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games and World University Games Team. Moore will also be looking to gain a spot on this roster as well. 

They'll be under the watchful guidance of Jeff Walz, who returns as an assistant coach for USA Basketball this summer. Walz, Dawn Staley and Kim Barnes Arico led the U18 squad to the gold last summer. 

Durr is already scheduled to play for USA Basketball in the FIBA 3x3 U-18 World Championships from June 4-7. 

And who said that UofL WBB goes dormant after Derby? 

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SOFTBALL STARTS ACC TOURNAMENT TODAY VS. NC STATE

Sandy Pearsall's Hit and Pitch Cards are the #4 seed in the ACC Tournament and will face the #5 seed Wolfpack at 1:30 today in Blacksburg, VA. in opening round action of the ACC Softball Tournament. 

The two squads did not meet during the regular season...Louisville holds a 2-0 lifetime series edge over NC State. Entering with a 34-19, 13-8 record, the Wolfpack comes in hot...having won their last eight games. Pitcher Emily Weiman (27-14) sports a 2.24 ERA. She tossed a no-hitter against Appalachian State last week.

Great, potentially another ace to face for the Cards bats...

Louisville (30-16, 14-7) did show signs of life inside the batters box with a 9-4 trouncing of Pitt last weekend and took two of the three games in the series. The Cards have won 30+ games in 12 straight seasons.

I expect a pitchers duel in this one. Hopefully, the Cards can get sufficient production out of Kelsi Jones, Whitney Arion and Becker at the plate to eke out a couple of runs. A blast by Brittany Duncan would be more than welcome...if they'll pitch to her.   

If the Cards succeed in dancing with these Wolves...they'd face the winner of #1 seed FSU vs. #8 seed Boston College. That one will be played Friday 1 p.m. 

Pearsall has options on the mound with either Becker or McCombs today. It is an interesting dilemma. Do you take a chance with the recently en fuego McCombs today and save Becker for a probable matchup against the Seminoles? Or do you put the Oregonian sophomore ace in the circle today to go with the proven in a must-win situation?

We'll know shortly after 1:30 today. ESPN3 has the coverage.

paulie
xxxxx 

Catching up with....Wednesday Cardinal couple

( Playing a little "catch-up" on three University of Louisville student-athletes in today's edition of CARDINAL COUPLE.)

EMMONNIE HENDERSON

The two-sport Cardinal star was named ACC Women's Field Performer of the Week for her efforts in the Tennessee Challenge.

"E" won both the shot put and discus with personal best throws. Her shot-put toss of 53-07.35 (16.35m) is the 21st. best in the nation this year. In the discus, the Edwardsville, IL native hurled the dish 188-09 (57.54)...which is fifth best in the nation this year. 


Her distances were also the third best throws in UofL women's track and field history. 

All across the ACC, they're reinforcing backboards in the gymnasiums and arenas to prepare for "E" and her putback shots this fall and winter...during the spring her tosses are being tracked by the air traffic controllers at the Louisville International airport. 

ASIA DURR

Jeff Walz and Mariya Moore aren't the only WBB Cards headed overseas this summer. Asia Durr and her DEFEND 3x3 team won the 2015 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Tournament and will represent the USA in Debrecen, Hungary in the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships. 

Durr and her teammates Kristine Anigwe (headed to Cal), Natalie Chow (undeclared Class of 2016)and Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame) will join 23 other teams from around the world for the championships from June 4-7.

A local star...Elizabethtown, KY senior Erin Boley (verballed - Notre Dame) was named MVP of the USA Tournament.

Hmmm...looks like Muffet McGraw has been busy on the recruiting trail as well...

SHELBY McCOMBS

The freshman pitcher on the UofL Softball team was named ACC Softball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending May 3rd.

She won two games in the series against Pittsburgh and went 12 innings while allowing just one run. McCombs also helped her cause with a double and home run at the plate. 

It's her first ACC Player of the Week honor and she's the third Card to receive one of the weekly awards this season.

Maryssa Becker got Pitcher of the Week on April 14th and Kelsi Jones Player of the Week on March 23rd.

So...how was your week?

paulie
xxxxx

Softball blasts by Pitt...LAX starts NCAA against Northwestern -- Monday Cardinal Couple

THREE HOME RUNS LEAD CARDS PAST PITT

Home runs accounted for eight of Louisville's nine runs against Pittsburgh Sunday and Shelby McCombs pitched five innings of one-run relief to give Louisville the series win in the final regular season game for the Cards. 

The start was less than hoped for in this one...Pitt touching Maryssa Becker for two singles and a three-run blast from Carly Thea that put the Cards in an early hole. 

Shelby McCombs relieved the Louisville ace in the third inning and allowed an additional run in the fourth on a solo fence clearer by Maggie Seville.

The Cards bats woke up in the top of the fourth when Whitney Arion doubled, came home on McCombs double and McCombs got the free ride on Kristina Dillard's first home run of the season to cut the Panther lead to one. 

Louisville took control in the top of the seventh with a six-run eruption. After a Becker walk and Arion single, McCombs drilled a shot over the fence to make it 6-4 UofL. The Cards continued to circle the bases...Kayla Soles getting a walk and Brittany Sims singling to set up a three-run "touch 'em all" by Hailey Smith. 

It is good to see the Cards bats on a hot streak as the ACC Tournament rolls around. They've scored 21 runs in the last two games. It's also pleasing to see that Shelby McCombs is providing a second strong pitching option for Sandy Pearsall. 

The Cards finish the regular season at 30-16 and 16-7 in their inaugural season in the ACC. They'll head to Blacksburg, VA for the ACC Tournament as a #4 seed where they'll face NC State Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

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LACROSSE RECEIVES AT-LARGE BID TO NCAA TOURNAMENT

Louisville Lacrosse is one of seven ACC schools to get bids to the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament.

On the selection show last night, the Cards discovered that they will be headed to a familiar venue...Evanston, IL...to begin play against the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday, May 8th. Winner of that one gets the winner of the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame contest. The Cards are in Maryland's bracket in the 26 team format. 

Louisville began the 2014 NCAA Tournament in Evanston and advanced to the second round with a double overtime win over Ohio State before losing to Northwestern. 

The Cards went to Evanston earlier this season and fell to the Wildcats 12-10. Louisville fell behind 10-5 in that one before rallying to lose by only two. The Cards finished the season 10-7...winning two games in their first season against ACC competition. 

Congratulations to Lou LAX for their second straight NCAA bid! 

paulie
xxxxx

Cards split with Pitt -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

LOUISVILLE LOSES 2-1, WINS 12-0

While American Pharoah was trying on the garland of roses in the winner's circle Saturday at Churchill...Louisville softball was six hours away in Pittsburgh trying to fly past the Panthers in ACC Softball. Two strong pitching performances for the Cards on the day from Maryssa Becker and Shelby McCombs...but only one win at Vartabedian Field on the Pitt campus.

A bottom of the seventh inning, walk-off homer for Jenna Modic gave Pitt the 2-1 win in the first game. Maryssa Becker and Savannah King were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel for four inning before the Panthers broke through for a RBI fielders choice by Modic to make it a 1-0 Pitt advantage.

The Cards tied it in the top of the sixth when Brittany Duncan singled home pinch runner Morgan Meyer. The Cards had the bases loaded with one out when Whitney Arion drew a walk but couldn't push the go-ahead run over the plate. 

Modic ended it after Louisville was retired in order in the top of the seventh. Her one-out, 2-1 count blast to right field improved Pitt's record to 33-17 and 10-10 in the ACC. 

Game two featured two Becker fence clearers and four RBI's for the Cards...who jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third. Three Pitt errors and a passed ball...plus a two-RBI Hailey Smith single gave the Cards a nice cushion for McCombs, who was keeping the Panther bats at bay. 

Louisville added two runs in the sixth when Brittany Sims worked a base on balls and Becker sent Mr. Spalding on a trip over the right field fence.

The Cards added the final five runs in the top of the seventh. A three run homer from Sydney Benz and two run shot from Becker set the tally at 12-0. 

McCombs (9-5) allowed just two Panther hits in the shutout and struck out four. She retired the final seven she faced for her second complete game shutout of the season.

They'll play the rubber match today at noon. 

The win secured Louisville (29-16, 15-7) as the #4 seed in the ACC Tournament and they'll face #5 seed North Carolina State in first round action on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.  

NCAA LACROSSE SELECTION SHOW TONIGHT

Kellie Young's Lacrosse squad will learn their fate tonight at 9 p.m. when the 26 teams that will comprise of the 2015 NCAA women's Lacrosse Tournament are named and seeded.

The ACC hopes to get seven schools in...North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Boston College and Syracuse all look to be "locks"...the Cards and Notre Dame probables for inclusion. 

It is the NCAA, though...so you never really know. 

You can watch on the NCAA.com site to see if LAX heads to their second straight NCAA Tournament. 

paulie
xxxxx

Softball, Lacrosse fall in ACC play -- Monday Cardinal Couple

SOFTBALL FALLS TO FSU

Louisville softball couldn't continue the mastery it held over FSU batters on Saturday, falling to the Seminoles 9-1 Sunday evening at Ulmer Stadium in a game televised on ESPNU. 

The 'Noles smacked 14 hits against the freshman pitching duo of Shelby McCombs and Madi Norman...after two scoreless innings...FSU opened the floodgates.

Florida State scored twice with two outs in the third and tacked on a run in the fourth. One got the feeling, watching it on TV, that this one had already gotten away from the Cards...starting FSU pitcher Lacey Waldrop was continuing her mastery of the UofL batters from Saturday and McCombs was struggling in the circle. 

A FSU two-run home run in the fifth didn't help the Cards' cause. Although Louisville scored their only run in the bottom of the inning...the 'Noles weren't done...adding two more runs in the sixth and seventh for the final 9-1 win.

The rubber match takes place tonight at 7 p.m. 

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LAX FALLS TO VA 17-9

Louisville Lacrosse drops to 1-4 in ACC play and 9-5 on the year with a eight-goal defeat in Charlottesville Sunday.

Similar to the loss last Saturday to UNC...the Kellie Young led squad hung around early and then went through a scoreless draught that took them out of contention.

The Cards scored early with Hannah Koloski connecting in the first minute and held a 4-3 lead with 11 minutes left in the half after Anna Kopecka found the net. 

Virginia (10-5, 3-3) amped up the offense, though and kept the Cards out of the net the remainder of the half...scoring six straight goals to take a 9-4 halftime lead.


The Hoos started the second half strong...tacking on two goals to Louisville's one to hold a 12-5 advantage with 21 minutes left on the clock.

The Louisville Laxers had one final run left in them...Koloski, Carlisa Corbett, Kopecka and Koloski again scoring to make it 12-9 Virginia. The tide turned again, though, in the contest...

Virginia shut the Cards out from there, though...adding the final five scores of the contest for the 17-9 win

Louisville returns to action with a Thursday, 2 p.m. match against Syracuse at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium. It'll be the Cards final appearance at home this season. 

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WORLDWIDE WITH CLUTCH PERFORMANCE


Our steamed colleague here at CC, Worldwide Jeff McAdams was busy enough for three people this weekend Serving as the PA announcer at Volleyball Saturday and Sunday, catching both softball games, hitting the Crescent Hill 'Mighty Kindness' Festival on the waterfront and bailing out Paulie by filling in for him on the Sunday Cardinal Couple column.

A laptop crash is not a pretty thing. Especially when it is an actual crash...the dependable, old Sony Vaio tumbling to the floor after being dislodged from a table by clumsy Paulie. 

A cracked screen, broken bezels and non-functionality. Game over for the Paulster. 


As Sonja rationalized...it was time for a new laptop, anyway. The Vaio (nicknamed 'Skip' -- for its penchant of the cursor jumping around to wherever it felt like) was a sturdy ol' warhorse that Paulie picked up used from a buddy who was upgrading.

We're still learning the ropes on the newest edition to the CARDINAL COUPLE family...a spiffy Lenovo that we caught on sale. We did lose a whole passel of photos when Skip passed away, so we'll be dealing with that...but we've gotten up off the field, brushed ourselves off and we're back in the game. 

paulie
xxxxx

Softball facing pivotal weekend -- Friday Cardinal Couple

ACC LEADER FSU COMING TO TOWN

The Louisville Softball team has fared pretty well in their first season in the ACC...sharing the conference lead with FSU until an unexpected sweep-of-series from Virginia Tech last weekend. The losses tossed Louisville (11-4) to third place in the conference standings...two games behind the Seminoles and percentage points behind UNC (10-5). 

The Cards have the opportunity to make up ground, in fact... grab the conference lead with a sweep of the Tallahassee squad...but it will not be an easy task at all for Sandy Pearsall's Bat Cards. 


Louisville showed some signs of life in the Wednesday win over DePaul in Chicago...winning 5-0 behind the strong arm of Maryssa Becker. Becker and Kelsi Jones pounded balls over the fence in the "W"...prior to that, the Cards had managed only two runs total in the series against the Hokies and no runs against rival UK last Wednesday. 

Only N.C. State and Notre Dame have hung losses on the Seminoles in conference play this...Notre Dame currently fourth in the conference at 10-5 and N.C. State in fifth at 7-5. 

After FSU, Louisville will face only two more conference foes before the ACC Tournament. Boston College will come in for three games and the Cards will travel to Pitt for three to end regular season conference play. 

The ACC Conference alignment in softball is a bit different...you don't face everyone in the conference. Louisville probably is a bit glad that they do not face Notre Dame or N.C.State this season in regular season conference play...they could very well run into them in the ACC Conference tournament, though...which will be held in Blacksburg, VA on Virginia Tech's field.


Two Cards are batting over .400 for the season...Jordan McNary at .415 and Kelsi Jones at .412. Maryssa Becker and Shelby McCombs have 8 wins each for the Cards. 

The Louisville vs FSU series begins Saturday night at 7 p.m. The teams will also face Sunday and Monday nights at Ulmer Stadium at 7 p.m. The Sunday and Monday matchups will be televised on ESPNU.

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APRIL CARDINAL COUPLE CONTEST


Time is running out for you to get in the CARDINAL COUPLE APRIL CONTEST. We're asking you to predict the total number of run the Louisville Softball team will score in the final 11 games of April. The Cards will play three in Ulmer Stadium against FSU, go to Oxford, MS to play Ole Miss for three, travel to Lexington for one against UK, host Boston College for three and WKU for one. 

The winner gets an absolutely fabulous CARDINAL COUPLE Tee-Shirt and if anyone guesses the exact number of runs, we'll toss in a $25 gift card.

Entries need to be in by 7 p.m. Saturday night. You can leave your guess in the comments section or e-mail us. 

Greg B. writes:

"I choose 39 runs and I think that Louisville will go 9-2 in this stretch. I predict that the losses will come in one game against FSU and at UK. Prove me wrong, girls! Go 11-0!" 

That's the spirit, Greg! 

paulie 

  

Softball goes 1-1 in Dot Richardson, Radio Today -- Saturday Cardinal Couple

Softball Downs UMKC...Falls to Missouri

Louisville Softball has escaped the arctic blast that has enveloped these parts...travelling to Orlando, FL. and participating in the Dot Richardson National Collegiate Softball Invitational. 

In case you wondered, Dot Richardson was a key part of the United States national team that won the gold medal during the sport's Olympic debut in 1996 hitting the home run that won the title game. After her win at the Olympics, she continued with her career as an orthopedic surgeon. She's also currently the head coach at Liberty University. Born and raised in Orlando...she's considered one of the greatest softball players of all-time and was a superstar at UCLA.

Missouri 5 - Louisville 1

The Cards faced Missouri...who was opening their 2015

campaign...in the first game of the invitational and fell 5-1 to the Tigers. Mizzou jumped on Louisville and Shelby McCombs early in this one...with two runs in the first inning and three more in the second inning.

The Cards had an excellent opportunity to score in the bottom of the second with bases loaded and one out after Whitney Arion was hit by a pitch, Sydney Benz doubled and Kelsi Jones drew a walk...but a strikeout and groundout got the Tigers out of the inning 

Louisville got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Nicole Pufahl singled and came around to score on a Kelsi Jones double. Jones transferred to Louisville from Missouri last season...so a bit of poetic justice there in breaking up Missouri pitcher Toni Finucane's shut out. 

Jones had two of Louisville's six hits in the loss. Shelby McCombs takes the loss (2-1) going three innings. Fellow freshman Madi Norman finished it up for UofL...hurling the final four in shutout relief. 

Louisville 3 - UMKC 2

The Cards got a two-run homer from Arion and RBI single from Maryssa Becker in the top of the third against Missouri-Kansas City to take a 3-1 lead and held on to win the Cards second game.

Madi Norman (1-3) notched her first win of the season...coming in to relieve starter Becker, who allowed two runs in three innings. 

The Cards (3-4) face Florida A&M and Arkansas today. 

So far in this early part of the season...the Cards seem to do better against the hyphenated and initial schools...more of those, please... and less Washington's, Minnesota's and Arkansas's  

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Radio this morning at 11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM and

streaming live on the internet at crescenthillradio.com

Worldwide and I will wrestle a grizzly bear live on the air, race an ostrich, perform with Snoop Dogg, interview Barack Obama and witness a live wedding on the air in our Valentine's Day broadcast.

(OK...just kidding...none of that is going to happen)

We will discuss Louisville women's sports from a fan's perspective, though...and basketball, softball, lacrosse and other UofL women's sports are on the docket. 

"Turn that damn thing OFF !!!" 

We might even throw a Valentine's Day Quiz at Worldwide and see how he does.

We've got words from Walz after the win over Pitt and post-game player interviews...plus an exclusive with former Cardinal great Dez Byrd. 

It's radio that ends your Saturday morning each week. Join us, won't you?

paulie   

Hoops looks for 20th win today...Softball goes 1-1 Saturday -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

TOUGH REMATCH VS. PITT EXPECTED TODAY

It was a month ago in The Pete...the last meeting between these two and a game where the Cards shook off double-digit first half deficits to get away with a 63-57 win over Brianna Kiesel and the Pitt Panthers WBB squad. This dangerous bunch of felines crosses the Ohio today to do battle with the 19-3, 7-2 ACC Louisville Cardinals...who look to start another win streak after being "Duked" Monday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium 66-58. 

Pitt enters this fray winners of three of their last four. At 15-7, 5-4 ACC...Suzie McConnell-Serio's squad downed NC State in Raleigh last time out...a 60-50 Thursday night win.

Kiesel had a spectacular effort with 28 points, buoyed by 12-12 from the charity stripe, and center Yacine Diop produced a double-double against Mr. and Mrs. Wuf's cubs with 11 points and 16 boards. 


Keys to a Louisville win this afternoon are pretty simple. Avoidance of the "who are those players in Louisville jerseys?" slow starts to each half and getting to the boards will be key elements in a potential victory. The Cards outrebounded the Panthers 39-31 last time out...Shawnta' Dyer being the workhorse with 12. 

Louisville also got strong guard play in the win over Pitt last time out. Smith, Jude, Moore and Carter combined for 36 of Louisville's 63 points and the Cards will look to force the pace against a Pitt squad that prefers to see their opponents play them in a half court setting. 

Continued strong efforts out of Sara Hammond and Myisha Hines-Allen will be needed, a return of Dyer's performance last time and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch (the Cards were 10-13 in the second half from the line) spell the keys to a Cardinal conquest. 

No TV for this one except CARDS TV. Matt and AJ will handle the airwaves...no word if "Q" might drop in for an impromptu chat...for this 2 p.m. start.

It's also National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Basketball Alumnae Day and Girl Scouts Day on the promotional side. No word on whether we'll get a Alumnae game after the contest. Maybe they could play the Girl Scouts...to liven things up a bit? 

We'll recap it later, dude. Go watch it live this afternoon.

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SOFTBALL GOES 1-1 AGAIN IN SPORTCO CLASSIC

Minnesota 4 - Louisville 2


Sandy Pearsall's swingers fell to Minnesota 4-2 and romped Cal-Bakersfield 10-2 in the second day of the UNLV Sportco Kick-Off Classic. 

The Gophers were first up and Louisville stayed close early...tying it at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when LSU transfer Hailey Smith smashed a double to left that scored Maryssa Becker. 

UM countered with runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth but Louisville cut the Gopher advantage to 3-2 on Sydney (Mercedes) Benz's first four bagger of the year. 

Minnesota tacked on a run in the sixth off freshman reliever Bridgette Flaherty. Another freshman, Madi Norman, got the start for Louisville...Pearsall making sure all three of the newcomers seeing plenty of early season action. 

Louisville 10 - Cal Bakersfield 2

Cal-Bakersfield has been everyone's punching bag in the Sportco soiree so far, and the Cards took their turn in the nightcap...pounding out a six-inning 10-2 win.

Jordan McNary went 3-3 and scored two while driving in two in this community effort. Maryssa Becker launched her first "touch 'em all" of the season, too. 

A four run bottom of the second, aided by a two-RBI producing single from Whitney Arion got the Cards off on the right foot. Becker blast in the third made it 5-2 UofL.
Louisville pushed that to 8-2 in the fourth...Kristina Dillard's two RBI double pushing the Louisville lead to six.

Single runs in the fifth and six provided the final margin...A Ashley Nikolao double, followed by a Brittany Duncan run-scoring single ended the contest. 

Shelby McCombs got the complete game win...another freshman here...going six innings and allowing just five hits and two runs. 

The Cards wrap up Weekend in Vegas with a 2:15 p.m. tussle with #11 Washington today.

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The latest CARDINAL COUPLE Radio Hour should be landing

on the Soundcloud sometime today . We had a fun show yesterday talking about the UofL Volleyball Banquet and some great audio from that event. We also reviewed softball, the WBB loss to Duke and there's even a WorldWide quiz available for the taking.

If you beat Worldwide's 80% effort, you get to replace him on the show next week! 

We're telling him to meet us on the Belvedere next Saturday for a live remote. With a flock of pigeons.

Or seagulls. It doesn't take much to get him excited...

Listen to this stellar broadcast at this link:

SEAN MOTH RUINS TWO OF OUR INTERVIEWS. WE'LL REMEMBER...


It's up and running now...go have a listen.

paulie