Thursday Cardinal Couple - Cards clean up on post-season awards

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


CARDS DEFEAT UCONN 8-0


- Louisville coaching staff best of BIG EAST


-Cards play UConn today at 12:30 in first round of BIG EAST Softball Tournament


Who knew? "Big Mike" sings at Wrigley


SPECIAL GAME REPORT: LOUISVILLE 8 - UCONN 0


The Cards run rule UConn in five innings to start play in the BIG EAST Tournament. A five run bottom of the fifth gets it done for UofL. They advance to the semifinals and face DePaul -- a 6-0 winner over South Florida today -- at 4 p.m. Friday. 


Caralisa Connell drew the start for Sandy Pearsall and Louisville provided her with three runs in the first three innings. An Alicja Wolny home run gave Connell the 3-0 cushion going into the top of the fourth...but Connecticut loaded the bases with one out and Chelsea Leonard entered the contest to pitch for Louisville. She got the next Husky batter to pop up to her and ended the inning with a strike-out to get the Cards out of the jam. 


Louisville started the bottom of the fourth with a Jordan Trimble double...but the Cards left her stranded with three outs after that. 


Leonard retired the side in order in the top of the fifth to preserve the 3-0 lead. 


Louisville used two errors, a walk and three hits to finish the game in the bottom of the fifth. All with two outs. After Jennifer Esteban and Hannah Kiyohara grounded out, Katie Keller reached on a fielding error by the UConn pitcher. Alicja Wolny drew a walk and Taner Fowler singled (her second RBI for the day) to score Keller and make it 4-0.


UCONN went with a pitching change after the walk to Wolny but it didn't turn out well for them. Jordan Trimble singled to load the bases with Cardinals. A walk to Kayla Soles forced in Wolny to increase the UofL lead to five. 


That set the stage for Maggie Ruckenbrod. A sharp single to right plated Fowler and Trimble and the relay throw to third to try and get Soles out was wide. Soles advanced to home plate to make it 8-0 and end the game. 


Connell gets the win....allowing two hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. She goes to 20-1 on the season. Leonard picks up her 11th save of the year...retiring all five batters she faced.


We guessed wrong about today's starting pitcher for the Cards...but everything turned out fine and Tori Collins will tangle with DePaul's Kristin Verdun (we think...) tomorrow. Sandy rolled another "seven" today. 


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The University of Louisville softball coaching staff has been named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year and a school-record nine players earned all-conference honors at the 2012 BIG EAST Softball Banquet last night. Tori Collins, Kristin Austin and Taner Fowler made the first team. Katie Keller got second team honors and Jennifer Esteban, Alicja Wolny, Jordan Trimble, Caralisa Connell and Whitney Arion landed on the third team. 


2012 Player of the Year went to Kacee Cox (St. John's) and Pitcher of the Year to Laura Winter (Notre Dame) How Tori Collins and Kristin Austin didn't get these two awards is a mystery...but, it is the BIG EAST. Expect the unexpected. 

The Cardinal coaching staff ( Sandy Pearsall, Carol Bruggeman, Courtney Scott, Lacy Wood and Lisa Pinkston) were unanimously selected the 2012 Coaching Staff of the Year. It's the second time Pearsall and crew have received this honor...2006 the other time. 


They don't award Assistant S.I.D. of the year...but if they did, Lori Korte of Louisville would have been the runaway winner. WE'LL just go ahead and present the CARDINAL COUPLE Softball S.I.D. award to her. Great work, Lori ! 


Louisville led the BIG EAST in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored and total bases. They were second in ERA and opponent batting average. 

Wolny and Austin make their third appearances on the all-conference teams. Collins her second. 


Hard to believe that Louisville pitcher Chelsea Leonard was snubbed in the voting for the teams -- along with South Florida pitcher Sara Nevins...but we guess there is only so much room for pitchers. 


Louisville's first round opponent -- Connecticut -- landed two players on the teams. 3B Kim Silva made the first team and DP Amy DeLuca the second squad. 


Breakdown of players selected by team:


Louisville - 9                           De Paul - 2
Notre Dame - 6                         Pittsburgh -2
Syracuse - 4                             St. John's - 2
USF - 3                                     Connecticut - 2
Rutgers - 3


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The Cards begin their quest for the BIG EAST Tournament title today at 12:30 p.m. against the Connecticut Huskies. Hard to say who Pearsall and Scott will choose to put in the circle to start...but we'll venture a guess and say it'll be senior Tori Collins. After all, it's survive and advance and Collins is your ace on the staff.  We're going by the assumption that you use Caralisa Connell for the winner of the South Florida vs. DePaul game. Then, you bring Collins back for the championship. 


You have reliever extraordinaire Chelsea Leonard available should the starters get into a jam. Of course, WE'RE not the BIG EAST Bloggers of the Year here at CARDINAL COUPLE. Sandy could have a different plan...and she's been rolling "sevens and elevens" all season long. 


Whoever UConn sends out to throw (we're guessing it'll be junior righty Kiki Saveriano) will have to deal with these Cardinals: 


- Kristin Austin OF. Austin finished the regular season with a .377 BIG EAST batting average.

- Taner Fowler DH. Fowler had six home runs against BIG EAST opponents.


And the list goes on and on. Wolny, Esteban, Trimble, Ruckenbrod, Keller, Arion, Mann...Cardinal batters make you pay. 


We'll have a update on the game later today. Be sure to check back. It's available for viewing on BIG EAST TV. Just go to bigeast.tv and enjoy. LINK:

BIG EAST SOFTBALL


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Finally, Michael Bush is one of our favorite UofL football players of all time. What a great running back he was, and still is. He recently left Oakland and signed with the Chicago Bears...which makes us love him even more. Below is a clip of him singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch during a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Thanks to Nick Coffey, of CARDINAL CONNECT notoriety, for the find... 


Like we said, a great running back...


Mike croons at Wrigley
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Wednesday Cardinal Couple - BIG EAST Tournament next for Louisville Softball

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WEDNESDAY WITH THE COUPLE


-Louisville softball BIG EAST Tournament preview


-Taner Fowler


-Our choices for next BIG EAST Commish.


-Go Bode Go

The 2012 BIG EAST Softball Tournament begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 10th. Louisville will play in the second game of the day at 12:30 p.m. against the Connecticut Huskies. The Cards are the #1 seed and take a #8 national ranking and 50-3, 20-2 record into action at South Bend, IN and Notre Dame Stadium. 


The Huskies enter the tournament with a 21-26 overall record and went 9-13 in the BIG EAST. Last time out, UConn was swept in a three game series by Syracuse.

Amy Vaughan, senior OF/catcher for UConn.

Offensively, Amy Vaughan leads the charge for UConn. She carries a .306 average and has 13 home runs and 42 RBI's. Jennifer Ward has scored 29 runs and has a team-leading 25 stolen bases. Connecticut pitching is led by Kiki Saveriano, who tossed 135 strike-outs in 157 innings. Her record is 11-15 and her ERA is 3.25.


The teams did not meet during the regular season. Last time they squared off was in 2011 at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville. They split a double-header with Louisville taking the first game 5-1 and UConn returning the favor with a nightcap 5-1 win. Louisville leads the all-time series 9-5. 

The Cards have advanced to the semi-final round of the BIG EAST Tournament each year since joining the conference in 2006. Louisville last won the tourney in 2007. Syracuse was won the last two years and did it at Ulmer Stadium. 


When at bat, the Cards are led by senior Kristin Austin, who finished the regular season with a .401 batting average. She scored 43 runs and had a nation-high eight triples. Junior Alicja Wolny hit .374 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI's. Sophomore Taner Fowler checks in with a .370 batting average, a team best 11 home runs and 46 RBI's. 

On the mound, Louisville has three threats. Tori Collins is the ace of the staff at 23-1. Her ERA is 1.25 and she's recorded 171 strike outs. Just because Collins isn't on the mound doesn't mean opposing batters get a break. Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard are a combined 27-2 on the season and the trio of Cardinal pitchers have combined for a 1.33 ERA, 357 strikeouts and are holding the competition to a meager .183 batting average. Louisville has tossed 22 shutouts this year. 


The Cards face very stiff competition if they get by UConn. Next would be either South Florida or DePaul on Friday. DePaul dealt Louisville two losses in the three game series in Chicago back in late March-early April. Louisville swept South Florida in mid April at Ulmer but the Bulls have one of the best pitchers in the league in Sara Nevins. 

Three games in three days. Win the tournament and virtually guarantee that you'll host a NCAA Tournament Regional site next week at Ulmer Stadium. Increase on the most wins in a season in Cardinal history. 

Exciting times ahead for Cardinal softball. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be shown free and live on Big East TV. We originally thought the BIG EAST Championship game was to be shown on ESPN 2...but we've also heard ESPN U was having the broadcast recently. 


Good luck and best wishes to the Cards as they travel to South Bend for the tournament. Bring back the trophy, ladies and teach them what L1C4 is all about...


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Louisville sophomore Taner Fowler leads the Cards in home runs this season. The sophomore from Morganfield, KY. goes where ever Sandy Pearsall needs her. When Maggie Ruckenbrod was out with an arm injury at the start of the season, Taner took up residence behind the plate. She can also "cover the corners" by playing first or third base if needed. 


Need a strong bat in the lineup? Taner can DH. Very well, in fact. Her .370 average is third on the team. 


She also wears #11 when on the field. This makes her a favorite of CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owner Sonja's...since that was Sonja's number in field hockey. 


Like Sonja, sometimes Taner will just burst out in laughter or a giggle spontaneously. No particular reason, some thought or memory flashed by and brought back a good feeling....a warm remembrance...a happy time.


Like Sonja, she lost her father unexpectedly while she was in college.

Taner's story is amazing. We've provided a link below that chronicles her journey. 


http://espn.go.com/espnw/college-sports/7900807/louisville-cardinals-sophomore-taner-fowler-swinging-missing-dad

We wish all the Cardinal softball players great success in the post-season. 


Excuse us if we cheer maybe just a little bit louder for #11...


The Courier-Journal ran this article on #11 
a few days back. It's a good read also.


http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120505/SPORTS02/305050197/Taner-Fowler-louisville-softball


A tip of the hat and hearty handshake for CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny for providing the links. We should probably give her a raise. Two rations of banana pudding a day? We'll get back to you.... 



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Joseph A. Bailey will assume the duties of BIG EAST commish until a new one can be hired. We're guessing they couldn't contact Beetle Bailey, ex-jockey Jerry Bailey was busy, defense attorney F.Lee Bailey wanted too much money and Bill Bailey wouldn't come home. 


There is no specific time-frame set for a new hire. It could take some time for the hiring committee of Moe, Larry, Curly, David Spade, Jerry Springer, Andy Dick and Jon Stewart to get together all in the same place and at the same time. Here is our TOP TEN list of candidates to replace Johnny: 

10) Charlie Sheen. Talk about "out of the box" thinking! And, he'd be sure to attend a lot of women's sporting events and gala BIG EAST party affairs. And, he could dress like he did in Platoon. That'll make sure no one else tries to raid the BIG EAST. Drawback is his relative in-experience in sports. Even though he was in a major league baseball movie, his Wall Street past might comeback to haunt the BIG EAST coffers.  

9) Terry Meiners. Local radio and television funny guy would add a sense of triviality and nonsense to a conference that takes itself way too seriously. The weekly tele-conferences would be "must see" TV and when it comes to lampooning note-worthy figures...no one does it better than 'Larry Miners'. They'd probably have to hire a chauffeur for him, though. No problem. Take the funding for a driver out of the St John's football budget.   

8) Paul McCartney. The Beatle would ensure great attendance at any BIG EAST sporting event he might attend. And, he could change up a few tunes to liven things up. Imagine him singing a re-worked version of Hey, Jude to UofL WBB sophomore guard Jude Schimmel. Or, Mean Mr. Mustard to UConn coach Geno Auriemma. Beatle wigs for everyone! 


7) Richie Farmer. Lil' Richie knows hoops! And, he's adept at adapting circumstances to fit the needs of the one, not the many. Perfect for a conference that has been raided more often than a prohibition speakeasy. Hit 'em with the "bro-stash", Wildcat! 


6) Commish Mark. We felt our very own Mark did a fine job running the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA TOURNAMENT Women's Basketball Pick 'Em Bracket contest. The BIG EAST Commish job might be a step down for him...but sometimes, you take one for the team. We'd chip in Bill the Goat and Co-Co, too...if the BIG EAST hires him. 

5) Joe B.Hall/Denny Crum. We like the easy banter that Joe and Denny have on their radio show. We feel it would translate easily to a BIG EAST job.


JOE: "Doggone it, Denny. We've got to stop teams from leavin' the dad-gum conference!" 
DENNY: "You're right, Joe. Let's take them fishing." 


4) John Calipari. Wouldn't have to worry about playing Indiana in this slot and he could learn all about football from "World Wide Wes"...whose taught him everything else he's ever learned about sports. 


3) Dr. Phil. The BIG EAST has a ton of troubles going on. Dr. Phil solves problems. Enough said.

2) Sgt. Schultz. The affable Hogan's Heroes actor is the best we've seen at non-information.


"I know nothing about conference expansion, Col. Hogan. I know nothing about lucrative television contracts!" Truly, a match made in heaven with a conference that doesn't have a clue.

1) Bobby Petrino. The BIG EAST has football woes. Bobby Petrino knows football. He can also tell BIG EAST athletic directors exactly what they want to hear. The drawback? Ol' Bob changes jobs every few hours or so...it might be a lead-in for him taking the head football coaching job at UK.  


Whoever the BIG EAST decides on, we hope that the winner keeps one important thing in mind...


They gotta live in Providence, RI. Line up, boys! 


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Finally, for today's horse racing fix...a video of Bodemeister's journey to his second place Ky. Derby finish...along with the preparation for the race. Good stuff, link below... Thanks to Jen Jade, from In the Money for passing it on! 


Go Bode Go
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