Softball falls to Texas 6-2

CARDINAL COUPLE: FRIDAY EDITION

-Cards lose to Texas in Austin.
.
-BIG EAST Swimming and Diving.
.
-Track and Field this weekend.
.
-WHO WANTS PANERA?
.
The University of Louisville women's softball team dropped their opening game in the Texas Invitational Thursday night to #15 Texas 6-2. Freshman catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod (pictured here) had a two run homer for the Cards only scoring.

"We faced a great team tonight," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Texas has a powerful offense and an All-American pitcher, it was a tough opener. We made some great defensive plays but we needed to swing the bat better. Needed our pitching to be a little more aggressive.
The teams started off 0-0 after two innings before the Longhorns went to work. Back to back home runs in the bottom of the third off of starting pitcher Tori Collins gave Texas the early lead. They increased the margin in the bottom of the fifth when Chelsea Leonard was tapped for a line skimming double to left field, a single, a wild pitch and another single. After five, Louisville trailed 4-0.

The Cards hit the board in the top of the sixth when Katie Keller reached base on a single and Ruckenbrod smashed a deep shot over the left center fence for a four bagger. Jordan Trimble and Alicja Wolny drew back to back walks to put the go ahead run at the plate with two outs but Texas pitching ace Blair Luna fanned Colby Wherry for her 12th. strike out to end the threat.

Texas added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Texas drew a walk, got two singles and a wild pitch made it 5-2. A bases loaded walk scored another run but freshman Carlisa Connell got the third out.

The Cards had four hits in the game...Keller, Kuckenbrod, Trimble and Wherry with one each. Louisville used three pitchers...Tori Collins starting and going 2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Chelsea Leonard followed...tossing 3.1 innings and giving up four runs on six hits. Caralisa Connell got the final two outs in the sixth.

Louisville went with an opening day starting lineup (in batting order) of:

Kristin Austin-right field
Katie Keller-second base
Maggie Ruckenbrod-catcher
Chelsea Bemis-third base
Jordan Trimble-center field
Alicja Wolny-first base
Taner Fowler-designated hitter
Colby Wherry-shortstop
Jennifer Esteban-left field
.
Louisville plays again today against Northern Illinois at 5 p.m.
.
*************************************************************************************
.
The BIG EAST holds the swimming and diving championships beginning today in the Ralph Wright Natatorium on campus. Diving starts the activities off and will take place thru Sunday. Tickets remain for the diving events. The swimming events start Wednesday and no tickets remain. Selling out a swimming meet...another example of Cardinal fervor for Cardinal teams.
.
Paul ran into a couple of the University of Cincinnati divers yesterday and had a nice chat with them. Lindsay Bakan (Miamisburg, OH) and Maggie Edwards (Florence, KY/Notre Dame Academy) are seniors and have participated in meets several times at the "Ralph". Both agree that Louisville has the best facilities for swimming and diving in the BIG EAST. Both participated in the dual meet against Louisville on Jan. 15th. in the Ralph Wright Natatorium...Bakan finishing third in both the 1 meter and 3 meter events. Bakan also mentioned that she has never
won a diving match in Louisville and would love to get her first win ihere in the BIG EAST Tournament.
.
Louisville is the prohibitive favorite in the swimming part of the championship. The Cards have the fastest times this season in 14 of the 21 events that will be contested. Cincinnati's Brittany Ten Eyck has the highest score in both the 1 and 3 meter diving events.
.
*************************************************************************************
.
Louisville's womens track and field squad will participate in two events this weekend. Part of the team is headed to the Akron Invitational in Akron, OH. and others will travel to the highly rated Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, ARK. Listed below are the Louisville participants by location and event.
.
AKRON
.
Pentathlon - Gabrielle Jackson
High Jump - Maggie Gilbertson
Pole Vault- Andrea Sabbatine, Chelsea Lucas
Long Jump- Kim Cardeiro
Shot Put- Chinwe Okoro
.
TYSON
.
400 meters - Ahlivia Spencer, Chelsea Brown
Long Jump - Charachesicia Lockhart, Margret Harris
60 meters - Saravia Richardson, (Harris)
Triple Jump - (Lockhart)
High Jump - Michelle Theophille, Megan Schubert
200 meters - (Richardson, Harris, Brown)
4x400 relays - (Lockhart, Spencer, Brown, Harris, Richardson)
.
***********************************************************************************
.
It's hard to believe but we have less than double figures in entries for PANERA Gift Card this week. Since we're doing a random drawing tomorrow, now's a great chance to get in! Just e-mail us your favorite Panera location, food or employee. cardinalcouple@insightbb.com
.
.