Horses, Cardinals and Coaches...oh, my!

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Who will win the Kentucky Derby? Where's the dartboard ???


-Fowler, Collins sweep BIG EAST awards


-Walz a travelling man this time of year.


-Golf in third place after second day of BIG EAST Tournament

The big grey/white Hansen will be
easy to spot on the track

Kentucky Derby 138 is on Saturday, May 5th. With a dozen shopping days until the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports, the picture on a clear favorite is as murky as the Ohio River after several days of rain. Today, we try to make a little sense of it all. Just in case, we've got the dart board converted to 'horses running' and darts ready to throw. It may just be the most logical way to pick them for the Run for the Roses.

Bodemeister destroyed the field
in the Arkansas Derby

Any discussion of Derby favorites should probably include the following horses. Bodemeister, winner of the Arkansas Derby by nine lengths for Bob Baffert may be the post time favorite. A lot to like there.


Union Rags, a close third in the Florida Derby and the sentimental favorite with trainer Michael Matz and rider Julian Leparoux is getting rave reviews on his training and strength since the race.

No one has gotten to Gemologist yet.

Dullahan pulled the upset over Hansen in the Blue Grass Stakes and both of those will get bettor play. Dullahan was flying at the end and wowed horseplayers with his finishing kick. You know Hansen will go for the lead and try to take them wire-to-wire on a track he won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile on last fall. He beat Union Rags, Creative Cause, Dullahan and four other Derby contenders that day at Churchill.

I'll Have Another could win another...

Gemologist took the Wood Memorial for Todd Pletcher and Javier Castellano and hasn't been beaten yet. The California invaders I'll Have Another and Creative Cause were neck and neck in the Santa Anita Derby and looked good in doing it. 


Think we're done? No, not hardly. 

El Padrino and Mark Valeski could deliver a nice
price on Derby Day.

Take Charge Indy and Calvin Borel won the Florida Derby and Calvin...yeah, he knows a thing or two about riding and winning at Churchill Downs. El Padrino ran fourth against Borel that day but Pletcher is dismissing that race as a horse not liking the course and will relish Churchill.


Sprinter Trinniberg hasn't tested a distance race yet but blew them away in the Bay Shore and has the breeding to suggest he could "get" a mile and a fourth. Liaison has Baffert and Bejarano and they are a deadly combination, despite the sixth place Santa Anita Derby finish.


That should cover it, right? Think again...

Alpha can kick away from the field in the stretch.

Daddy Long Legs invades from Dubai and won the UAE Derby. He's second on the earnings list for potential Derby runners and has stamina and a closing kick. Mark Valeski, who lost the Louisiana Derby by half a length to longshot Hero of Order, did so while missing a front shoe. Daddy Nose Best is a Steve Asmussen horse that gets Garrett Gomez and won the Sunland Derby. Done Talking finished first in the Illinois Derby and Alpha ran an improving second in New York. Isn't He Clever recently got switched to the Asmussen barn. His eighth place finish in Arkansas was probably another case of "wrong track, wrong day"...he did win the Borderland Derby in impressive fashion.

WE look into our crystal ball for
the Kentucky Derby winner later
this week. Where's the Windex?

Twenty horses will take to the gate at 5:37 p.m. on the first Saturday in May. We've covered 18 of them here who we wouldn't be surprised to see finish first across the wire. 


Like we said earlier, get out the dartboard...


WE will have some selections for our readers later this week from Sonja, Paul and Tommy Boy. Suitable for hamster cage liner. 


Currently, Paul is big on Bodemeister. The Arkansas Derby didn't have the strongest of fields...but the way he ran away and hid from the competition down the stretch sure looked like a Derby winning move...


Sonja is wavering between Gemologist and I'll Have Another these days, in addition to Bodemeiser. 

"Seven horse? Seven horse! Who said anything about
the seven horse!! Inquiry! Steward's objection!" 

Tommy Boy refuses to share any philosophies with us yet. He's too busy trying to figure out what happened to his "sure fire" Pick 4 at Keeneland Sunday. 


Tommy usually does pretty good when it comes to big races. He had last year's Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, in his top three and hit the exacta. 

J.J. not seeing a Hansen Derby win.

J.J. Hysell, one of our favorite handicappers, sees it this way in her Paulick Report...1) Gemologist  2) Bodemeister 3) Union Rags 4) Dullahan. She puts out the In The Money site we have listed on the left side of the board.


Got a early "take" on who you like and why? Shoot us a comment or e-mail. Nothing like the blind leading the deaf, right? 


We're still waiting patiently for Churchill Downs to approve us as "media-pass" worthy. We've been assured that we'll get this approval and we know that their media relations department is quite busy these days. Good things come to those who wait, we guess. Will this one 'come down to the wire'?


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Taner Fowler and Tori Collins were selected for BIG EAST awards for Louisville softball. Fowler was named BIG EAST Player of the Week and she had eight hits, four home runs, eight RBI's and six runs scored in the Cards five wins last week.


She also worked the concession stand, sold programs, directed traffic on Floyd Street and swept the stadium after each game. The Morgantown, KY sophomore alternates between designated hitter, catcher, infield and is a slugger extraordinaire. She leads Louisville with nine home runs this year. 

Tori Collins was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for her precise pitching last week, getting three of the five Louisville wins. She allowed 11 hits in 19 innings and is 21-1 on the year. Her ERA is a microscopic 1.11. 

Collins has 564 career strikeouts which is good for 3rd on the all-time Cardinal pitcher list. 


Louisville (43-2) takes a break from BIG EAST action Wednesday to travel to Bloomington and face Indiana University. 


The Cards lead the BIG EAST with a 14-2 record. USF is 13-3, Syracuse 11-3 and Notre Dame 7-3. 


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Ricky Nelson also sang "Garden
Party" and "Poor Little Fool". 

The late Ricky Nelson sung the classic sixties hit Travelin' Man but one wouldn't blame Jeff Walz for humming a few bars of it lately. 

The UofL women's basketball coach has been spanning the nation watching future prospective Cardinal talent from coast-to-coast. He was checking out 2013 mark and #5 ranked Becca Greenwell in Virginia and North Carolina last week. Then it was off to California to catch #1 2013 prospect (oh lord, won't you recruit us a...) Mercedes Russell. 


Apologies to the late Janis Joplin.

Rumor also has it that Walz offered a scholarship to an outstanding 6'4" sophomore center in the Sacramento area. We're on the story trying to confirm that. With just a couple of days left in the recruiting period, he's also expected to pay a visit to Brownsburg, IN. star Stephanie Mavunga, ranked #3 for 2013.  

Van Halen sings better than Walz. Barely...

There's also a meeting with Swedish sensation Amanda Zahui on campus this week and Lindsey Wilson freshman and  Cardinal target Monny Niamke. 


Yep. Coach is racking up more frequent flyer miles than Van Halen's concert tour lately...


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The UofL women's golf team is in third place after Day Two of the BIG EAST Tournament at Reunion-Watson Course in Reunion, Fla. The Cards took third with a red hot second day score of 311 to give them a two-day total of 623. South Florida leads with 604 and Notre Dame follows with 609.

Haas (center) is a stroke off the lead.

Freshman Emily Haas leads Louisville with a 151 for 36 holes. She's tied for third...just two strokes back of the leaders. Freshman Katie Petrino has had back-to-back 77's and sits in 11th place with a 154. The youth movement on the links seems to be alive and well for Coach K's "grip and rippers". 

Katie Petrino has back-to-
back 77's in Florida.

Maria Castellanos has hit the ball 159 times in two days and Tara Lyons carded duplicate 80's to sit at 160....along with Candace Wiley.


The Cards conclude the tournament today with a 8:50 a.m. tee time. Long drives, close chips and steady putts, ladies!  
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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball sweeps Seton Hall with Sunday win


-Lacrosse loses in final home game.


-Jurich talks UofL and Walz


Teams have tried a lot of tactics to defeat Sandy Pearsall's UofL softball team this year. The Seton Hall Pirates employed a seldom used one Sunday...the weather...but the "it's raining, it's pouring" strategy failed, too...as the Cards win in soggy South Orange, New Jersey.


The University of Louisville softball team concluded their stay in Jersey with a 6-2 win over Seton Hall Sunday. The Cards sweep the weekend series to go to 43-2 overall and 14-2 in BIG EAST play. Another game where Louisville scores six runs...a different way of getting there Sunday.

Arion's two run blast gave Louisville the lead.

The Cardinal conquerors on the Sabbath were Whitney Arion and Katie Keller -- each with home run blasts against the Pirates and both in the pivotal fifth inning. Down 2-1 going into the bottom of the inning, Arion's blast came with Maggie Ruckenbrod on to give Louisville a 3-2 lead. After singles from Jennifer Esteban and Kristin Austin, Keller cleared the bases with a three-run dinger over the right center fence. It was 6-2 after the second moon-shot and the Cards had put up five in the fifth. 

Collins pitched seven
innings of one hit ball
against the Pirates.

And that was all Tori Collins needed to pick up her 21st win of the season. A relief role Sunday for Collins, spelling starter Caralisa Connell with no outs in the bottom of the first -- bases loaded and two across across the plate for the Pirates already. 


Some days you have it, some days you don't. 


While Connell didn't have it Sunday, Collins did and retired the Pirates with no further damage done in the inning...and allowed just one hit the rest of the way...a meaningless single in the bottom of the seventh.  


The Cards head to Bloomington, IN for a non-conference tilt against the Indiana Hoosiers Wednesday. 


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Tough loss for Louisville lacrosse in the final game of the season...falling to Connecticut 10-9 on Senior Day at Louisville Lacrosse stadium. Senior Eleni Kozaz scored Louisville's first goal and the Cards had a 7-4 lead at halftime...led by Nikki Boltja's two goals.

Boltja had three goals in the Louisville loss

The Cards could not sustain the momentum, though and the Huskies put together four goals in a row in the second half to lead 10-8 at the 15:27 mark. Boltja picked her third goal of the game a few minutes after that and had a couple of chances to score in the final minute but the Husky defense held tough and Louisville loses 10-9.


Tough season for the rebuilding Cards at 3-12 and 1-7 in the BIG EAST. Boltja and 18 of her teammates return next year, though, and should benefit from this rebuilding season.  


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Howard tells Tom that a black suit is the
way to go in the future...

Tom Jurich talks UofL and spends a little time on Walz on the Friday edition of WHAS's GREAT DAY LIVE with Terry Meiners and Rachel Platt. Thanks to Kenny for the find and forward.


We sometimes forget or take for granted the things that Jurich has done here since he came to Louisville. There was no softball...just to name one. If there was a M.O.P. award for Athletic Directors each year, Jurich would have more titles than UK has basketball championships. 


Link below. 


Talkin' Tom

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A special thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE writers Mark and Jenny for keeping the boat floating this weekend while Sonja and I took a couple of days off. 

Sonja and Cheryl hold Paul up for a photo.

They even swept the porch and emptied the garbage...but my Snickers bars are missing and we figure it was either the "Commish" or Bill the Goat with the sweet tooth


Anyway, good to be back behind the laptop...but what did you people do with the sunny, spring-time weather we left you in charge of? Brrrr!!!!   
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Softball, Basketball and the Big East

Softball takes two.

Amanda Zahui visits Louisville.

Big East Coach of the Year leaves St. Johns.

Softball headed to New Jersey and took care of business on Saturday, winning both, 6-3 and 6-1.  Taner Fowler had a week’s worth of play in just two games hitting 6-8 with 3 home runs on the day. 

Game one, 6-3

Taner Fowler went fence
three times Saturday.

The Cardinals took an early lead in this one with a Taner Fowler two-run homer in the second.   Seton Hall got one back in the bottom of the second, and the bottom of the third took the lead 3-2.     Watching my twitter feed, the softball Cards had me nervous in this one, not regaining the lead until the top of the 6^th with another Fowler home run, this one a solo shot, tying the game.  The Cards went on to score another 3 runs in the 6^th.  This proved enough offense for the game and the Cards sealed the victory.  Senior Tori Collins (20-1) got the win and sophomore Caralisa Connell got the save, her second on the year, holding the Seton Hall Pirates scoreless in the bottom two innings. 

Game two, 6-1

The Cardinals took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second, and never looked back.  The Pirates never threatened.  Fowler hit her third home run of the day, ninth of the season, in the top of the 3^rd bringing the score to 5-0.  The Pirates notched one in bottom of the third, which would prove to be the only run in the game for them.  The Cards scored once more in the 5^th, bringing the final score to 6-1. 

As Mark mentioned yesterday, Softball Cards return home for their final home stand of the season this Saturday against Georgetown.  Get down to Ulmer Stadium at 2:00 on Saturday for a double-header and/or 1:00 on Sunday.  The softball team is currently ranked 9^th in the country and should feel the fan support and love this weekend as they close at home for this fantastic season.  Currently, the Cardinals are 42-2, 13-2 Big East.  We’ll see you next weekend at Ulmer. 


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Amanda Zahui and Monny Niamke, both international basketball players will be visiting Louisville this upcoming week.   Cardinal Couple readers may remember Monny Niamke from recruiting news last summer. 

Niamke is from France and signed her NLOI to play with the Cardinals in 2011.  Due to academic issues she was ineligible to play last season and spent the year at Lindsay Wilson getting herself eligible, presumably.   Niamke played in 32 of 33 games on the season and had a FG% of .446, 3pt FG% of .351, FT% of .660.  Niamke averaged 3.8 rebounds/game, 7 blocks on the season, 52 steals and created 95 assists to 91 turnovers on the season. 

Amanda Zahui hails from Sweden.  Coach Walz reportedly was in Sweden a little over a month ago visiting Zahui.  Sounds like the visit paid off as Louisville is among 3 programs vying for her services.  Washington and Minnesota, along with Louisville will each get a visit from the Swede this upcoming week, as reported by Cardinal Couple a few days ago.  

Zahuia is a big-bodied 6’3.  Her body type looks tailor made for the Big East.  She looks to have the ability to clog up the lane defensively.  In an email exchange I had about two weeks ago with a Swedish sports columnist he suggested Zahui has a good shot, can shoot mid-range shots as well as from beyond the arc.  For a big body, she also shoots very well from the free throw line.  He went on to say  “although big, her best post moves are based on her being pretty quick and agile. She's quick around the rim, but she's not very good running up and down the floor.” 

Guestimates on my end are that Zahui will be on campus some time between Monday-Wednesday, for a 48-hour visit, before she heads off to Washington for her last of three visits. 

Cardinal fans, we should know about both of these young players in the next few weeks as the signing period ends May 16.


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Finally, Kim Barnes-Arico, most recent Big East Coach of the Year has left St. John’s to take a position with Michigan.  Barnes-Arico spent the last 10 years with the Red Storm culminating in finishing second in the Big East this year behind Notre Dame.  Barnes-Arico and her Red Storm also ended a 99 game home winning streak by Connecticut this past season.  She and her team finished the season with a loss in the Sweet Sixteen, the deepest post season run the Red Storm have ever had. 

This has to be a huge loss to the St. John’s faithful.  It definitely is a loss to the Big East.  Barnes-Arico was one of my favorite coaches in the Big East to watch.  I am sad to see her leaving, but happy that she is making a decision and change that is good for her and her family.   Michigan hit the jackpot with this hire, I believe.  Good luck in the Big 10, Coach.  We here at Cardinal Couple wish you well and much success!

LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL TEAM:SEASON WINDING DOWN

Truth be told...Paul would rather have
Moonlight barbecue instead of hot dogs

Today the Louisville Softball Team plays a doubleheader in South Orange, N.J. against Seton Hall . Game times are Noon and 2pm.   Tomorrow the two teams meet at 11am.   Then, on Wednesday 4/25 the team travels to Bloomington to play Indiana at 2pm before returning home  for their final 3 home games next weekend.

The team is Nationally ranked (9th) and is currently in first place in the Big East. Their record is 40-2 (11-2 Big East).

So hurry!  Time is running out and the regular season is winding down.  Last chance to catch the Louisville Cardinal Softball  team at home during the regular season. Only 3 home games left-- A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday 4/28 against Georgetown at 2pm and 4pm.  On Sunday 4/29 the teams square off at 1pm.

Why go?  Well, the price is right.  A ticket will cost $0.  Actually--you don't need a ticket.  Just walk in Ulmer Stadium and sit where you like--- except for the press box. That spot is reserved for Co-Owner & senile Senior Columnist of Cardinal Couple Paul Sykes.  Yes, if you  are lucky you just might see Paul aimlessly wandering around the stadium asking patrons if they could buy him a cup of coffee and a couple hot dogs.  Don't be surprised as  you walk to the concession stand to fulfill his request you hear him enthusiastically exclaim:  "Don't worry about the condiments!!".... (As he pulls out 50 mustard packets he's collected from various fast food restaurants and a 64oz bottle of Heinz ketchup from his back pocket). And if by chance he forgets how to get back to the press box he would appreciate any of our faithful readers to point him in the right direction. 
And if you are lucky, you just might see a couple players from the Women's Basketball team supporting the team.  Becky, Jude, and Shoni have been known to attend many of the games. (Don't buy them any hot dogs---that would be an NCAA violation).  So take in a softball game next weekend.  The games are fast moving, exciting, and best of all free.


Commish Mark
 

Busy weekend for UofL women's sports

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Women's tennis wins in first round of BIG EAST Championships


-Lacrosse faces #2 Syracuse today 


-Louisville track host Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational


-WBB visitor? 


-Notinrwildestdremz to race


The #6 seed Louisville women's tennis team advanced out of first round action in Tampa, FL. Thursday by defeating #11 seed Pittsburgh 4-0. The Cards will advance to play #3 seed Syracuse today at noon. 


Mark Beckham was pleased with the Cardinal effort. 

"A great way to start the tournament. We were very efficient with how we played. We didn't spend any time on the court that wasn't necessary. It was a perfect preparation for Syracuse. Now we can concentrate on a very good Syracuse team." 


Julia Fellerhoff, Rebecca Shine, Mandy Brown, Manuela Velasquez, Sarah Miller and Amelia Harris all won their singles matches. In doubles, Fellerhoff/Brown, Shine/Velasquez and Harris/Miller swept the Panthers.


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Lacrosse hosts #2 Pitt today at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium at 5 p.m. The match will be shown on WHAS-TV (11.2, Insight 432, Comcast 207). It is the final weekend of regular season lacrosse before BIG EAST Tournament play begins. Louisville will also play Connecticut on Sunday. 

The Cards (3-10, 1-5) have their work cut out for them against the Orange. Syracuse (11-2, 4-0) is on a ten-game winning streak and is fourth in the nation in scoring offense and tenth in scoring defense. 


Louisville's Nikki Boltja is third in the nation in goals per game (3.54). Last time out, Louisville lost a close one at Villanova 9-8 in overtime....the Wildcats scoring the winner as time ran out in the extra session. 


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Louisville will host the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood track and field invitational Friday at Cardinal Park. Field events begin at 10:30 a.m. and running events scheduled to start at 3 p.m. A total of 33 Cardinal track and field women will participate in 16 events tomorrow...many of them taking part in multiple track and field contest. 


Look for the Cardinals to do well in the throwing events and  relays. 


You can follow live results at the UofL official sports website. www.UofLsports.com


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David Hein of HeinNews is reporting that 6'3" Swedish basketball star Amanda Zahui has listed Louisville as one of her three potential schools for the 2012-2013 season. Hein reports that she is going to be visiting Louisville over the weekend as well. You can read his article at the link below. 


Amanda Zahui to visit three schools, decision soon

CARDINAL COUPLE'S Jenny O' Bryan has been all over this story since we discovered that Coach Walz was making a recruiting trip to Sweden and her research led to a random e-mail by us to Hein...who e-mailed back, followed up on our questions and wrote an article about the tall Swede. 


Hein writes about international basketball and other topics. He's worth a read. Good coverage on the international hoops scene.


We've dropped a teaser or two about this over the past few days but wanted to wait for some actual confirmation before breaking the news. 


6'3" isn't bad. Take it when you can get it if there's talent there, Coach. 


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Finally, we bring you this heart-warming and touching story of a horse overcoming the worst of it to get to the track and run. Horse-racing fan or not, we think you'll like this story about Notinrwildestdremz...who is a winner no matter how the race goes at Aqueduct. Link below.


Horse overcomes odds to make it to the track


( Update on NOTINRWILDESTDREMZ...got scratched before the 2nd at Aqueduct Sunday after getting out of control in the gate at post time. The owners will try her at Belmont next.) 


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Two Cardinal homers produce seven runs in win over USF.

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Softball Cards sweep USF 4-1, 9-0 to take 1st place in BIG EAST.


-Pat Summitt retiring


-Greg Collins headed to WKU WBB


The University of Louisville softball team beat the University of South Florida twice in softball Wednesday at Ulmer Field to go to 40-2 on the season and a league leading 11-2 in BIG EAST play. The Cards rocked USF standout pitcher Sara Nevins for eight runs in the two games and Jordan Trimble and Taner Fowler each had home runs for the Cardinals in the second game.


A crowd of nearly 800 fans enjoyed the picture-perfect, sunny mid 60's weather. 


GAME ONE

Tori Collins is now 19-1.

It was Tori Collins on the mound against Nevins in the first game, two of the best pitchers in the BIG EAST facing off and early on it was a pitchers' duel. 


South Florida loaded the bases on Collins in the top of the second on two singles and a batter hit by a Collins pitch with just one out, but Collins got out of the jam by striking out the next two Bulls batters. 

Alicia Wolny drew
three walks from
Bulls pitching today.

Louisville broke up the scoreless contest in the bottom of the second when Alicja Wolny drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Fowler fielders choice grounder. Jordan Trimble walked to give Louisville runners on first and second and after a Kayla Soles ground out...Maggie Ruckenbrod drove home both Wolny and Trimble to give Louisville a 2-0 lead.

That proved to be all Collins would need to get her 19th win of the season but Louisville added a run in the third when Kristin Austin safely bunted with one out and came home on Wolny's sharp shot down the 3rd base line. 


Sam Greiner replaced Nevins to face the Cards in the fourth inning. 


The Bulls scored their only run of the game and the day in the top of the fifth, an unearned run when Janine Richardson reached on a infield bobble and scored on Jessica Mouse's infield single with two outs. 

Maggie Ruckenbrod drove
in the Cards first two runs.

Louisville added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Katie Keller reached on an error and Katelyn Mann came in to pinch run. Mann scored on a Fowler single to center but Bulls relief pitcher Lindsey Richardson retired Trimble, Soles and Ruckenbrod to end the threat. 


Collins shut down the Bulls in order in the top of the seventh, striking out Richardson, getting Kalafas to ground out to her and Mouse to pop up to Kristin Austin to end the game. 


Collins gave up six hits and struck out eight Bulls in the complete game. 


GAME TWO


Nevins returned to the mound to start the second game and Caralisa Connell drew the start for the Cards. Nevins had no trouble with Louisville in the first three innings, retiring the side in order each inning. 

Caralisa Connell started
the second game for UofL

Connell loaded the bases with Bulls in the top of the second after giving up a walk, a single and hitting a batter with two outs. She struck out Ashii Goff, though, to get out of the inning unscathed. 


Chelsea Leonard took the mound to replace Leonard and face to Bulls in the top of the third. She retired the side 3 up, 3 down.


The Cards needed to fire up the bats against Nevins and went into the bottom of the fourth with the top of the order in Jennifer Esteban leading off.


It was quite an inning for Louisville. 

Trimble's grand slam was
the second of the
year for Louisville.

Esteban started the fireworks off with the first Cardinal hit of the game, a single to center. Kristin Austin followed with a walk from Nevins. After Keller went down swinging, Wolny lofted a deep fly to the right center fence that fell for a hit, scoring Esteban. Kirsten Straley came in to run for Wolny and USF decided to intentionally walk Fowler, loading the bags full of Cardinals.


That idea backfired...setting the stage for Trimble's grand slam homer -- the first of her career -- a bomb to right center that just cleared the fence. Suddenly, it was 5-0 Louisville and the Ulmer Stadium crowd was going nuts.


That did it for Nevins and Greiner came in to pitch. She retired two of the next three Cards to end the inning but the damage had been done and the Cards were celebrating in the third base dugout. UofL had sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.


Leonard allowed a bunt single to start the top of the fifth but retired the next two Bulls before allowing another single. She quelled the USF rally, though, by fanning D'Anna Devine for her fourth strike out of the game.

Fowler's three run blast
ended the game

Esteban walked to begin the bottom of the fifth. Austin followed with a infield single and Keller singled to left but Esteban was thrown out at home on the play. USF elected to intentionally walk Wolny but a wild pitch allowed Austin to score to make it 6-0 Louisville.


 After the walk, USF brought Lindsey Richardson in to face Fowler but the strategy failed when Fowler lifted a deep shot to left field that easily cleared the fence to make it 9-0 Louisville and end the game via the eight-run rule. 


Leonard got the win to go 8-0 on the season. Nevins was tagged with her second loss of the day... dropping her record to 23-4. 


Maybe two of the biggest wins in Cardinal softball history on Wednesday. The Cards scored eight runs on Nevins...who had a 0.70 ERA coming into the games.


Louisville pitchers allowed just one run and ten hits...all singles...in 44 at-bats to a USF squad that was batting .284 as a team going into today's games. 
The combination of Collins, Leonard and Connell struck out 14 Bulls batters in 12 innings.


Louisville had ten hits as well but four were either doubles or home runs. The Cards also drew seven bases on balls against the Bulls pitching -- a couple of them intentional. Fowler's home run was her sixth of the year, Trimble's blast her second of the season. Louisville's nine runs in the second game are the most scored on USF this year and it was the first time the Bulls have lost by the eight-run rule this season. 


No Cardinal had more than one hit in either of the two games but the hits they got were key...Louisville left only four runners on base in both games, South Florida stranded a total of 14.


The Cards take first place in the BIG EAST with the wins today and will face Seton Hall next...in South Orange, NJ...beginning with a noon Saturday start.


Cardinal fans were thrilled with the victories. WE caught up with a few after the game. 


"Those home runs in the second game just made this place go crazy. It's rare you get to see a grand slam and the one tonight was just thrilling." - Ben Donnelly


"It was a great night for softball and the Louisville pitchers were the difference tonight. I'm so proud of this team!" - Connie Smith.


"This was our first time ever catching Louisville softball games but we'll be back. The kids loved it, and so did I. We even went to the playground before the game" - Tiffany Peters.


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Pat Summitt will announce she is retiring as the Lady Vols skipper after 38 years as a head coach in a news conference today at 1:30 p.m. in Knoxville. 

Summitt says she has no sadness about the decision and will remain close to the program in her new role as head coach emeritus.   


Long time Tennessee assistant Holly Warlick will become the new head coach. 


WE can only wish Pat the best as she battles early onset dementia and extend our appreciation and love to the greatest coach to ever patrol the sidelines for women's college basketball.


Her announcement comes on the same day that her son Tyler will be announced as the newest assistant on the Marquette women's basketball team. An interesting revelation, given Tyler's close vigil over his mom over the last few months.


We had the chance to see Pat in person at the beginning of the 2010-11 season when she brought her Lady Vols to the KFC YUM! Center to play Louisville. Summit was gracious, affable and even a bit cantankerous in the post game media interviews...complaining, tongue-in-cheek, about having to climb to the step-less podium to address the media. She raved glowingly about the KFC YUM! facilities and expressed her admiration for then-freshman Shoni Schimmel and her play that evening. 


Sally Jenkins, of the Washington Post, has a great read on Pat. Link below.


Pat still much more able than disabled

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Congratulations to Greg Collins, who has been named as assistant coach for the WKU women's basketball team. Collins leaves Arkansas and Tom Collen to join Michelle Clark-Heard's staff. Collins was an assistant at Louisville from 2002-2007 prior to going with Collen to the Razorbacks. He also coached at Louisville Manual High School before joining UofL in Martin Clapp's final season as head coach.

Greg is one of the good guys. His recruiting skills and teaching techniques are among the best in the women's college game. He was essential in holding the 2002-2003 UofL squad together after Clapp's departure until Tom Collen arrived on campus. 


Getting a little closer back to Louisville, Greg. Good luck to you and do well with Michelle ! 
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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


SPECIAL REPORT


CARDS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST SOUTH FLORIDA.


-Cards run rule South Florida in Game two 9-0


Louisville exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth and four runs in the fifth to run-rule South Florida 9-0 in game two. The big shots were Jordan Trimble with a grand slam home run to right center in the fourth and Taner Fowler three run left field fence clearer in the fifth to end the game. Chelsea Leonard gets the win with three innings of relief, allowing just three Bulls hits and striking out three in relief of starter Caralisa Connell. 


With the two wins today, #9 Louisville is alone in first place in the BIG EAST with a conference record of 
11-2. 


-Louisville wins Game one against the Bulls 4-1


Louisville gets a complete game win out of Tori Collins and beats the Bulls 4-1 in the first of two today here at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards got all the runs they needed in the bottom of second inning when Maggie Ruckenbrod hit a 2 RBI single to left with two on and two outs. The Cards added runs in the 3rd and 6th.


Collins struck out eight and allowed six hits against USF. The Bulls got an unearned run in the top of the fifth when Janine Richardson reached on a fielding error and scored on Jessica Mouse's single.


We'll have full recaps of both games in Thursday's Cardinal Couple. 


We're also hearing that Pat Summit will announce her retirement Thursday in a press conference. 


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-Cards, Bulls set to do battle in Ulmer Stadium today


-Okoro throwing it all away


The University of Louisville softball team (38-2, 9-2) heads into their most important double-header of the season so far this season...a 4 p.m. match against BIG EAST leading South Florida. A rare treat for out-of-town Cardinal Softball fans...both games will be televised on ESPNU with Adam Amin and Jennie Finch calling the contest.


The Bulls come into Ulmer at 40-6 and 13-1 in BIG EAST action. They suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend at Connecticut 7-3 but won the other two games against the Huskies. 

Nevins is 0-1 lifetime against the Cards

When you scout the USF squad, Sara Nevins is the first player that stands out. The sophomore pitcher is 23-2 and has a chilling 0.74 ERA. That earned run average is good enough to lead the entire nation. She has 237 strikeouts on the year in 180.2 innings pitched. Opponents bat a minuscule .171 against the lefty and the Bulls defense. 


According to her coach and teammates, Nevins is the main practical joker and stand-up comedian on the squad as well. Easy to be when you leave them dead in the aisles every time you take the mound. 


She'll face the top hitting squad in the BIG EAST today in Louisville, though. The Cards are batting .324 as a unit and have seven players hitting over .300 in the starting lineup.

Stephanie Medina

When USF comes to the plate, the main threats would appear to be Stephanie Medina and Janine Richardson. Both are batting an identical .339 on the season and have seven home runs each. 


Bulls head softball coach Ken Erikson sees the games today like this:


" It's a great time to be here. It's also just another couple of games. We're playing against another bunch of girls. We're not doing anything different. We've been on TV before and that's not going to change how we do things."

USF's Janine Richardson

The Cards and Bulls have a long history of playing each other...the series began back in 2000...Louisville's inaugural season for softball. Louisville coach Sandy Pearsall and Erikson have been on hand for each game. 


Last time the two faced was in the BIG EAST Tournament last year in the quarterfinals at Ulmer. Louisville won 2-0, getting a huge home run off then-freshman Nevins from Colby Wherry. Tori Collins pitched the shutout for the Cards.


First pitch is at 4 p.m. Weather looks great for today's action, so head out to Ulmer and cheer the Cards on! 


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BIG EAST STANDINGS (as of 4/16/12)


USF             13-1  40-6                 Pitt             6-8  23-19
Louisville      9-2   38-2                Providence  5-8  14-26
Syracuse       7-2   30-10              St. John       3-8  15-28
DePaul          7-2   25-13              Seton Hall    2-9  20-22
Notre Dame  5-3   21-13              Georgetown  2-9  17-26
Connecticut  7-5   18-17             Villanova      1-10  27-18
Rutgers         8-8   21-22


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For the second straight week, University of Louisville track and field's CHINWE OKORO has been named the BIG EAST Women's Field Athlete of the week. 

Okoro swept the discus and shot put in the Texas Roadhouse Border Battle last Saturday at Cardinal Park against Kentucky, Indiana and Notre Dame. Her discus toss of 56.24m/184-6 was a personal best for her and ranks fourth nationally this season. It is also the fifth-best throw in school history. Her shot put toss of 16.85m/55-3 ranks eighth nationally and another personal best. It's the third best toss in UofL history, too. 


Both throws top the BIG EAST this year. 


The red-shirt senior from Nigeria is also the holder of the 2011 Nigerian Championship title for shot put. 

Chinwe is one of several field specialist that make up what might be considered the best women's "throwers" in NCAA women's competition. Khadija Abdullah, Jenna Wargo, Amashi Kendall, Patrice Gates and Hannah Baker give coach Ron Mann a deep and veteran group of participants in the discus, shot put, hammer and javelin events.  


Okoro and Abdullah are a odds-on bet to finish 1-2 in any field tossing events they take part in. Wargo is a javelin expert and won the event in the Border Battle. 


Louisville, it seems, is quite adept at "throwing it away".  
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