Plenty to cheer about Sunday at Ulmer Stadium as the softball Cards take two from St. John...10-7 and 11-2. Chelsea Bemis connected with a grand slam to secure the first game.
Great day on the diamond for Sandy Pearsall's softball team with the sweep of the Red Storm. The action got started early for the two teams, with a 10:30 first pitch.
In a continuation of Saturday's second game rain delay which had Louisville leading 3-0 in the bottom of the second before the skies opened up...the Cards increased the lead to 4-0 on a Vanessa James single and Kristin Austin triple. St. John's put one on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth and Louisville got a solo home run blast by James in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-1.
The Red Storm woke their bats up in the top of the fifth with five runs to grab the lead at 6-5. Chrissy Montez's three run fence clearer gave the Johnnies the lead.
Louisville came right back at St. John, though, in the bottom half of the inning. Btrittany York led off with a walk and singles by James and Austin loaded the bases.
Melissa Roth's fly out scored York to tie it. Jennifer Esteban drew a walk to reload the bags and then Bemis cleared them with her first career grand slam to give the Cards a 10-6 advantage.
The Red Storm added a run in the top of the seventh but Tori Collins got the side out with no further damage and the Cards won 10-7.
In the second game, the Cards took control early and put five runs up in the bottom of the first. Alicia Wolny blasted a three run shot and Austin tripled in the inning to provide the fireworks.
St. John was able to cut the Louisville lead to 6-2 in the third inning but the Cards produced a 4 run bottom of the third to make it 10-2 and out of the Johnnies' reach. Louisville added a run in the bottom of the fourth for the final scoring.
Collins picked up the wins in each game, in relief of Kristen Wadwell. No word yet on the status of Cards pitcher Chelsea Leonard, who is out with a knee injury while pitching earlier in the week and did not participate on Sunday.
Louisville (32-15, 11-5) goes to Tampa next for a Derby Day visit to USF. They'll play three times over two days in the Sunshine State. Bemis has been absolutely pounding the opposing pitching during the Card' home stand and we hope the hot bat continues on the road.
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On the south side of campus, Louisville lacrosse lost to #11 Syracuse 16-11. The Orange broke away in the second half from a 8-7 first half lead with four straight goals to begin the second. Louisville led early in the contest 4-1 and got five goals from Emily Dashiell and four goals from Bergan Folly in the match.
Louisville is in 6th place in the Big East standings with a 2-4 conference record. Only the top four teams of the nine member league advance to the Big East tournament that will be held at Rutgers beginning Thursday, May 6th. With only two games remaining, the Cards are mathmatically eliminated from catching 5-2 third place Notre Dame and Loyola, MD. and getting to the tourney.
The Cards do have a strong stable of returning players for next year, though...including Folly, Dashiell, Liz Lovejoy, Katie Oliverio and Danielle Pawliw.
Tough loss on Senior Day for the Cards, who honored soon to be graduates Danielle Hale, Colleen Nevin, Ashley King and Lyndsay Ward. The Cards finish the season with two on the road...Rutgers up next.
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Pre-Derby favorite ESKENDEREYA will not run in the first Saturday in May leg of the Triple Crown of racing. Trainer Todd Pletcher indicated that the 3 yr. old has a slight swelling in the left front leg and hasn't galloped in workouts the way Pletcher feels the horse is capable of.
ESKENDEREYA'S defection throws the Derby picture wide open. Sonja will be getting out her dart board, crystal ball, channelling her psychic powers and consulting with the Yorkies' on Wednesday to provide her Derby picks. As for me, I'll tell you today that I'm "LOOKING AT LUCKY", honoring "NOBLE'S PROMISE" and giving a slight "ENDORSEMENT" to a trifecta with these three possible runners.
Written by Paul
4/26/10
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