2009-10 Best of the Big East in Women's Sports

The Big East Conference offers 13

different women's' sports for the

member schools to participate in.

So, who was the best overall school

in 2009-10?

CARDINAL COUPLE came up with a
highly unscientific but pretty accurate
and comprehensive scoring system to
rate and rank how the schools did.
Our scoring system assigned point
values for several different things
accomplished for the teams.

1) We assigned a point value of two points for winning the conference championship or regular season title. One point for second place. In some cases, 1/2 point was assigned if there was a tie for first or second. Keep in mind that some sports did not have a regular season schedule or a championship tournament.

2) The 13 sports evaluated were: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Softball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track (Indoor and Outdoor) and Volleyball.

3) 51 total points were available.

The results:

1) NOTRE DAME 14 points
The Irish got points for Softball (1-1 /2), Lacrosse (1/2), Rowing (2), Tennis (2), Soccer (4), Volleyball (2) and Swimming (2).

2) LOUISVILLE 7 points
The Cards scored in Volleyball (2), Track (2), Golf (2) and Softball (1). LOUISVILLE wins the tiebreaker with CONNECTICUT due to more categories scored in.

3) CONNECTICUT 7 points
UConn was awarded points in Basketball (4), and Field Hockey (3).

4) SYRACUSE 5 1/2 points
The Orange succeeded in Field Hockey (3), Softball (2) and Lacrosse (1/2).

5) GEORGETOWN 4 1/2 points
Hoyas tally in Lacrosse (4 ) and Basketball (1/2).

6) VILLANOVA 4 points
The Wildcats hit the board in Indoor Track (2) and Cross Country (2).

7) MARQUETTE 2 points
The Golden Eagles score with Soccer (2).

The rest:

CINCINNATI (1- 1/2), DEPAUL (1- 1/2), WVU (1- 1/2), RUTGERS (1), ST. JOHN (1) and PITT (1/2).

SETON HALL, PROVIDENCE and SOUTH FLORIDA were scoreless.

Some other awards we think are deserving:

*********Best Overall Performance by a team: UConn for their sweep of BIG EAST women's basketball conference and tournament and winning the NCAA national championship.

*********Biggest Underdog Award: Syracuse, for winning the Big East Softball Tournament as a #5 seed.

*********Surprising Stat: Rutgers with only 1 point out of the 51. And, it didn't come in basketball either...they scored with a second place finish in their soccer division.

*********Our top five athletes: Maya Moore and Tina Charles- UConn (Basketball), Jere Summers- UofL (Track and Field), Melissa Roth-UofL (Softball) and Kristi Frilling-Notre Dame (Tennis).

********* Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemna is too easy of a pick here, so let's go with Syracuse softball coach Leigh Ross. She pulled the major upset by winning the Big East tournament. Other candidates....Leonard Yelin (UofL) volleyball and Muffet McGraw (Notre Dame)basketball and Gina Procaccio (Villanova) track & field, cross country.

********* Info you may not have known: WEST VIRGINIA does not have a women's softball team and LOYOLA, MD. competes in the BIG EAST in Lacrosse.

Got a different list or viewpoint? Let us know in the comments section or e-mail us at :

cardinalcouple@insightbb.com

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We featured GRETA KUNTZWEILLER several days ago in an article. Congratulations go out to her for winning her first race since returing to being a jockey. Greta piloted DREAM DATE DIVA to a victory in the 4th race at Ellis Park Sunday in a $13,500 claiming race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up. They covered 5 1/2 furlongs in sloppy conditions in 1:06.27. DREAM DATE DIVA paid $15.20 to win as a 7-1 longshot. Kuntzweiller has also had several 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the Henderson, KY. track so far in the summer meet.

Keep on keeping on, Greta!

Roth named to All-American team

Senior catcher for the University of Louisville Melissa Roth has been selected to the 2010 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America second team. Roth made the squad last year also and is the first Softball Card to ever receive the honor twice.

Roth finished her senior year with a .389 batting average and pounded 16
home runs. She also had 49 RBI's and scored 59 runs. She was the lead off batter for the Cards and stole 15 bases this year...not something you normally associate with a catcher.

Melissa had quite the career here at UofL playing for Sandy Pearsall. She was a four year starter...playing in 235 games... and take a look at the career records she holds:

-Batting average (.379)
-Runs Scored (204)
-Doubles (68)
-Hit by pitch (77)
-Slugging percentage (.665)
-On-base percentage (.503)

It's going to be tough to replace the California native behind the plate. Thanks, Melissa for the always sunny attitude and wonderful things you've done as a Cardinal.

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So, you say you don't know the difference between a linebacker and a lineman? Get confused when the ref announces that there was illegal participation on the preceding play? Have no idea what a weak side blitz is all about?

Charlie Strong wants to clear all that up for you. So, he's having a Women's Football Clinic on Saturday, June 19th.

It's for girls only...you guys will have to go fishing, get the oil changed or maybe
hit golf balls in the woods. Certainly couldn't expect you to do a little yard work.

Registration start around 8 a.m. and the clinic runs from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m.
Lunch will be served and you get a t-shirt as well. Cost is $50.

Sign up ends on June 9th...so call (502)852-6325 and get in the know.

Don't worry..I don't think he's going to make you do windsprints or put you in helmets. A good friend of CARDINAL COUPLE did one of these a few years back and had a great time.

Now, she thinks she's John Madden, Vince Lombardi and Brett Favre all rolled into one...(Thank goodness she doesn't look like any of them...)

Roth, Bemis selected for All-Region team

Back to back honors for the Cards' California connection of Melissa Roth and Chelsea Bemis when it was announced yesterday that they had been selected for the NFCA All-Region squads. Both made the teams in 2009.

For Roth, another first team apperance. She led Louisville in batting average (.398), home runs (16) RBI's (47) and runs scored (57).

Bemis made the second team...which is a little surprising considering she was the Big East Player of the Year. Her second half of the season spurt helped her bat .311. She put 12 over the fence and drove in 44 base runners.

Congratulations to both...who are also elgible for All-America honors.

Louisville begins regional play today at 4 p.m. in Knoxville, TN against the Virginia Cavaliers. This is the Cards seventh straight NCAA apperance.


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CARDINAL COUPLE got a nice e-mail from Portland, OR. sports writer Jerry Ulmer yesterday. He writes some really great article about the Portland high school sports scene. He pretty much told us that they're in the dark in Portland as much as we are in the 'Ville when it comes to high school recrruit Shoni Schimmel. With that info, we here at CARDINAL COUPLE are going into the "watched pot never boils" mode and we won't mention her again (promise!) until a decision is offered by her.

A noted psychologist once recalled a club that he and his brother formed as kids where the requirements for membership were based on standing in the corner of their bedroom and not thinking about polar bears. We're doing the same but substituting the girl we're not mentioning for the bears.

Written by Sonja
5/21/10

Cards advance to final of Big East Tournament.

The Softball Cards advance to the finals with a 5-2 win over Notre Dame. Once again, a case of the Cards jumping on the opponent early and relying on pitching to seal the deal.

The game started out with a bang when Melissa Roth smashed the first pitch of the game over the right field fence to put the Cards up 1-0. Back to back singles by Jennifer Esteban and Alicja Wolny made it 2-0 and then a couple of Notre Dame fielding errors allowed Esteban to score a third run. Katelyn Mann's sacrifice fly got Wolny to home plate and the Cards had a 4-0 lead.

Cardinal pitcher Tori Collins kept Notre Dame in check for four innings..allowing the Irish a run in the third and one in the fourth. Kristen Wadwell tossed the final three innings and allowed no Irish hits or further scores. Louisville tacked on an insurance run in the 5th when Kristin Austin drove in Betty White.

In the first game of the day, #5 seed Syracuse pulled the upset on #1 DePaul with a 3-2 win. DePaul led the Orange 2-1 going into the sixth inning, thanks to a solo home run by Becca Hentiak but the Syracuse got run producing hits by Hallie Gibbs and Lacey Kohl to put the 'Cuse up 3-2 and they were able to hold the Blue Demons scoreless inthe final two innings.

Louisville and Syracuse will play in the title game Saturday at 5 p.m.

Bemis named Player of the Year in Big East Softball

UofL third baseman Chelsea Bemis was voted Player of the Year in Big East softball for 2010. The award for the junior slugger was announced last night at the Big East Championship Banquet. Her selection was no surprise to Cardinal softball fans who have watched her safely swat almost everything that was tossed to her this year for Sandy Pearsall's softball Cards.

Bemis also was a unanimous selection to the 1st Team All-Big East squad. Cardinal pitcher Tori Collins and catcher Melissa Roth joined Bemis on the first team selections. First baseman Alicja Wolny was selected for the second team and Kristin Austin and Colby Wherry got third team honors.

Big East Tournament play begins Thursday morning with a 10 a.m. start pitting #4 Villanova against #5 Syracuse. The rest of the quarterfinal round is as follows:

12:30 p.m. #1 DePaul vs. #8 Rutgers
4:00 p.m. #2 Notre Dame vs. #7 Providence
6:30 p.m. #3 Louisville vs. #6 Pittsburgh

First round action will be available on Big East TV and the Thursday quarterfinal package can be purchased for $7.95 if you can't make the games. Go to BigEast.org and click on the link to register and purchase what looks to be an exciting first day of Big East softball action.

The Friday semifinals and Saturday final will be shown on CBS College Sports. A 5 p.m. first pitch is set for Saturday, which makes it tough on those wanting to see if Calvin Borel and SUPER SAVER can win the Preakness.

The winners of game 1 and game two start the action Friday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the Championship can be purchased at Ulmer Stadium for either single sessions or the full package.

Should Louisville defeat the Panthers in the single elimination tournament, they would face the winner of the Notre Dame vs. Providence game at 5 p.m. Friday. Louisville did not play their quarterfinal opponent Pittsburgh during the 2010 regular season. Ace hurler Cory Berliner will probably draw the starting assignment for Pittsburgh.

The Panthers did play a couple of non-Big East opponents that Louisville also faced...losing to Kentucky and splitting a two game set with Morehead State.

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Also on tap this evening is the 2010 Cardinal Caravan tour at Captain's Quarters. Louisville players and coaches will address the crowd and the cheerleaders and LadyBirds will be performing as well. Louie the Cardinal Bird may have to fly back and forth from the Caravan and Ulmer Stadium to ruffle his feathers for both events...and it is not known yet whether the UofL Pep Band will be playing at the diamond or down by the river.

The Caravan kicked of the 2010 tour in Owensboro Wednesday night.

CARDINAL COUPLE will recap all the quarterfinal action for you beginning Thursday night with a report on each of the four games.

Written by Sonja
5/13/10

Softball Cards sweep UConn series with 7-3 win

Louisville ended the regular season on a high note with a 7-3 win at UConn. The Cards swept the series and goes into the Big East Tournament as the third seed.

The Cards pounced on UConn early in Sunday's game...scoring three runs in the top of the first. Melissa Roth led off with a single and advanced when Jennifer Esteban's fielder's choice was mishandled...leaving both runners safe. Chelsea Bemis continued with her torrid hitting streak and singled in Roth. Esteban scored on a throwing error when Bemis stole second and Colby Wherry's single got Bemis to the plate for an early 3-0 lead.

The Cards continued the scoring in the second inning when Kristin Austin single and advanced to third on a Roth double. Esteban reached on a fielder's choice that left all runners safe. Austin scored on a Bemis sacrifice fly and the Cards tacked on another run when Roth made it to the plate on a passed ball...giving Louisville a 5-0 advantage.

UConn got two runs back in the fourth on a home run blast from Amy Vaughn but countered with a run in sixth when Alicja Wolny's double scored Esteban. The final Cardinal score came in the seventh when Katelyn Mann drew a walk and touched the plate on a Vanessa James double. UConn tacked on a meaningless run in the bottom of the seventh to make the final 7-3.

Kristen Wadwell picked up her 17th win of the year. She struck out three and allowed seven hits in six innings.

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The field has been set for the Big East tournament which will begin Thursday in Louisville. The Cards finished in third place with a 16-6 record. Notre Dame and DePaul tied for first. Louisville will start against 6th seed Pittsburgh Thursday morning. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. The full rankings are:

#1 DePaul
#2 Notre Dame
#3 Louisville
#4 Villanova
#5 Syracuse
#6 Pittsburgh
#7 Providence
#8 Rutgers

Written by Paul
5/10/10

Softball Cards take two at UConn

Tori Collins and Kristen Wadwell combined to hold the Huskies to just one run in two games Saturday. Louisville swept the double header 5-0 and 10-1.

Louisville (36-16, 15-6) weathered a hour long rain delay that postponed the start of the first game and, at first, it looked like the Cards' bats might be a little waterlogged as well. The teams remained scorless after four innings and just had three hits between them. The Cards finally got the base paths busy in the top of the fifth inning when Melissa Roth and Jennifer Esteban drew walks and Chelsea Bemis sent them home with her deep home run to centerfield...her 11th of the year.

Alicja Wolny started off the Cards half of the sixth inning with a fence clearer to right and the Cards tacked on the final run of the game later in the inning when Kristin Austin came home on a bases loaded Esteban walk.

Collins got the win, going 4 innings and allowing just the one hit. Kristen Wadwell finished the final three innings and preserved the one hitter for Louisville.

Game Two saw the Cards hit the board first when Wolny and Katelyn Mann started the inning with singles and reached home plate on a triple by Austin. Vanessa James' single scored Austin and the Cards built a 3-0 lead.

Louisville tacked on 3 more runs in the 4th inning when Roth singled, Esteban reached on an error and Bemis banged another one into the parking lot...putting Louisville up 6-1.

The Cards were just getting warmed up. In the sixth, Roth doubled and Esteban drew a walk that allowed Colby Wherry to connect for a three run blast down the left field line to give the Cards a 9-1 advantage. They closed out the scoring later in the inning when Wolny singled and raced home on a Jordan Trimble single.

Wadwell was credited with the win. She pitched three innings of shutout softball for Louisville and Collins allowed just one run and three hits in three innings.

The teams conclude the series and the regular season for each on Sunday. Louisville hosts the Big East tournament beginning Thursday. Let's hope the weather holds up...the long range weather forecast is for rain in the Louisville area beginning Tuesday and continuing until Friday.

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Louisville women's golf finished the third and final day of the NCAA Central Regional in 14th place....missing the cut for the NCAA Championships. The Cards were led by Laura Anderson's 74 on the final day. Anderson returns for her final season next year along with junior Sara-Maude Juneau and freshmen Candice Wiley and Anna-Karin Ljungstrom....giving the 9-iron Cards and strong nucleus for 2011.They lose only graduating senior Daphine Parker from their starting fivesome.

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Finally, a Happy Mother Day to all readers! Whether your a mother, father, daughter or son...make sure and let Mom know how much you appreciate her and love her. I miss my Mom but I'm very thankful of the wise guidance and unconditional love she showed me and my family while she was with us.

Written by Paul HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!
5/9/10

Softball a solid 3rd in Big East standings

John Belushi contemplates where he wants sit at the upcoming Big East softball tournament that will be held at UofL's Ulmer Stadium May 13th-15th. As the 3rd seed, Louisville will begin play at 10 AM Thursday morning and face either Pittsburgh, Providence or Villanova. Tickets are available thru the University of Louisville ticket office or can be purchase at the gate. Although the late, great comedian won't be there...he'd be excited to watch the Softball Cards and their impressive lineup. Makes me want to have a "cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger...Pepsi."

Sandy Pearsall's Softball Cards sit in 3rd place in the Big East standings, behind DePaul and Notre Dame. Louisville will host the 2010 Big East softball tournament again this year and if there is a better venue than Ulmer Stadium to watch the game, you'll have to prove it to me.

Pearsall came to Louisville in 2000 after coaching at Miami, OH for six years. Softball was a new entity on the Belknap Campus and Pearsall wasted no time in pushing the program to prominence...gathering the C-USA Coach of the Year honors during her first season as the Cards skipper. Her teams have won over 400 games and this year's team is a solid contender for one of her best ever. Another example of Tom Jurich making a quality coaching hire decision and seeing it come to a sucessful outcome.

The softball stars are many and senior catcher Melissa Roth leads a talented group of diamond performers that love to pounce on opponents early and seal the deal with outstanding pitching. Kristen Wadwell and Tori Collins are Big East All-Star candidates and Collins has really stepped up and been very effective lately after Chelsea Leonard's season ended with a knee injury.

Roth isn't alone as a Cardinal slugger. Chelsea Bemis recently was named national player of the Week for her at plate efforts and Jordan Trimble, Vanessa James, Alicja Wolny and a multitude of others have made the Cardinal squad a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

CARDINAL COUPLE will provide full coverage of the Big East tournament and if you can't make it to Louisville for the 3 day affair, you can watch the action on Big East TV. Isn't it about time that the Cards get a little live game radio coverage? After all, how many classic rock stations does this city really need?

I'm guessing that if you gave Vanetti unlimited trips thru the media buffet, he'd do it in a heartbeat and I'd gladly do color commentary gratis.

On second thought...maybe it's a bad idea after all...

Written by Sonja
5/5/10 HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

Women's Golf wins Big East Championship

Sara-Maude Juneau fired a closing round 75 to finish as the low scorer in the three day event. She dusted the competition by six shots...finishing with a three day total of 220. It is the junior's first Big East title.

The Cards finished strong in the Big East Championship, carding a 304 for the final day, good enough to defeat runner up USF by eight stokes. Notre Dame took third place. Anna-Karin Ljungstrom matched Juneau's 75 in the third round for the Cards, who captured their 4th Big East title.

Freshman Candace Wiley knocked the ball around 80 times in the finale for Louisville and Laura Anderson, who had to withdraw from round two with a sore wrist, came back Tuesday to end with a 80 also. Daphine Parker shot a 74 for the Cards Tuesday.

All five golfers return next season for Louisville, who advances to the NCAA Regionals. Juneau. Parker and Ljungstrom were selected to the Big East 1st team Squad.

The Cards led from day 1 in the Big East Championship and gave head coach Kelly Meyers-Rothberg her fourth Big East title. A UConn women's basketball type dominance for Louisville on the links.

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Softball at Ulmer Stadium Wednesday with a doubleheader against the Syracuse Orange. First game is 1 p.m. and if you can't make the action, it will be televised on ESPNU.

Syracuse (23-17, 7-4) comes to Louisville in possesion of third place in the Big East standings. The Cards (27-14, 6-5) could leapfrog the Orange in the standings with a sweep of today's games.

Melissa Roth continues swinging the hot bat for Sandy Pearsall's team, with a .455 average and 14 home runs. Four Cardinals are batting over .300 so far this season. Louisville leads the all time series against Syracuse 8-1 and have never lost to them in Ulmer Stadium.

Cardinal pitchers Kristen Wadwell, Tori Collins and Chelsea Leonard have tossed 272 strikeouts this year.

Why not make it a bat and ball day? The weather is calling and you can head over to Patterson Stadium after the doubleheader to catch the guys in 6 p.m. action against WKU.

Written by Sonja
4/21/10

Softball Cards go 1-1 at Rutgers

Senior catcher Melissa Roth slugged an 11th inning two run homer to lead the Cards to victory in the second game 6-4. The Cards dropped the opener 3-1 to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Louisville split the doubleheader at Rutgers Wednesday. Kristen Wadwell drew the starting assignment for the first game and although she allowed only three runs on five hits, the Cards could only manage three hits in the first game. Wadwell struck out seven Rutgers batters in the contest.

The Cards fell behind in the opener 2-0 in the second inning because of a couple of errors that allowed the Scarlet Knights to plate the runs that would be the difference in the game. Louisville did manage to push a run across the plate in the fourth inning when Jordan Trimble scored on a Chelsea Bemis single.

Louisville jumped on Rutgers early in the second game when Roth scored on a Trimble single in the first and Louisville increased the lead to 2-0 in the third on a Roth solo homer. Rutgers, though...rallied with four runs in the bottom of the inning, largely due to a three run base clearer over the fence by Rutgers pitcher Brittany Lindley.

Louisville tied the contest in the fourth on a Kristen Austin single that scored Colby Wherry and Bemis. The teams went scoreless until Roth's two run blast in the top of the eleventh.

Tori Collins went nine innings for the Cards, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out nine. Kristin Wadwell got the "W" for Louisville with two scoreless innings of relief.

Louisville returns to action Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Notre Dame at Ulmer Stadium. It is also "Bark in the Park" day at Cardinal Park...bring your dogs for a romp on the grounds...or just run around and bark by yourself...if you prefer. Plenty of time to catch the action and then head down to the river to watch Thunder over Louisville.

If softball isn't your thing...the lacrosse team will be in action Saturday also...hosting Jacksonville.

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Today is the first day of the late signing period for high school seniors still uncommitted on their college basketball choices. The open period runs thru May 20th. Jeff Walz could add a couple of recruits to the class of 2010, including one that would be a real catch, guard Shoni Schimmel from Franklin Portland (OR) high school.

Good luck, Jeff. Come to the 'Ville, Shoni. You'll be playing in the new SONJA downtown arena in front of some of the most knowledgable and supportive fans in women's college basketball and going to school in the best college sports town in America.

Written by Sonja
4/15/10

Softball Cards travel to Rutgers

Wednesday brings one of those up and back mid-week road trips for Sandy Pearsall's UofL softball Cards. A doubleheader against Rutgers...then back to Louisville to prepare for a weekend series against always tough Notre Dame.

Rutgers (13-21, 1-4) enters the game after going 1-2 against UConn. They'll be facing a Cardinal squad that is currently on a five game winning streak. #25 ranked UofL romped in state rival UK last Wednesday 6-0...the final non-conference game of the season for the Cards.

Today's doubleheader will give Pearsall a chance to use all three of the Cards pitchers. Kristen Wadwell is the Cards ace hurler, with a record of 13-7, and the senior has struck out 98 batters in 127 innings pitched. The other main pitcher for the Cards is sophomore Tori Collins (8-3) who has recorded 83 swing and misses in 82 innings on the mound. Freshman Chelsea Leonard (4-2) completes the Cardinal pitching staff with 58 KO's in 39 innings of work. Collins looked very sharp after a rough first inning against UK and both Collins and Leonard are averaging over 1 strikeout per inning.

Melissa Roth leads a potent Cardinal offense that has outscored the opposition 193-141. Roth leads the team in batting average, slugging average, on base percentage, hits, home runs and triples. The Cards (25-12, 4-2) have five players with batting averages over .300 and five players with slugging percentages over .400.

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The ballpark is going to the dogs. At least it will on Saturday when Cardinal fans are invited to bring their canines to Cardinal Park for a free doggie bag and watch the Cards doubleheader against the Irish and the UofL lacrosse match against Jacksonville.

No word yet on whether the dogs will be able to run the bases after the game.

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Our buddies Shannon over at Cardinal Dominance and Charlie at UofL Card Game accompanied other members of the media on a walk thru of the renovated Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Tuesday. Leading the trip was UofL athletic director Tom Jurich. Great recaps and photos are featured on their sites. PJCS will hold over 57,000 when completed later this summer. You can access their web sites over on the left side of this page.

Hard to believe, but the UofL Spring Football game is this Friday. Admission is free and the gridiron action begins at 7 p.m. First year coach Charlie Strong has the guys out there hitting and hustling with a renewed purpose according to the reports I'm getting and I invite you to join Sonja and I out for a great evening of fun and Cardinal football action. Strong will be holding a seminar for women interested in learning more about football later this summer.

No need to worry, ladies...you won't need to put on the pads and do windsprints. I've heard Strong speak on several occasions and found him to be an informative, knowledgable and entertaining speaker. He also knows how to motivate his football players. Who was that other guy here before him?

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Another sign that I'm getting older:

Tony Dow, who played Wally in the sitcom "Leave It To Beaver" has turned 65. No word on whether he and Eddie Haskell are planning a party at the Cleaver household. If they do, someone better keep Lumpy away from the sandwiches and chips. Wonder why no one has attemped to make a 21st. century series remake of the popular sitcom? I still remember falling for the urban legend that Eddie Haskell moved on to be Alice Cooper after the series ended. (Jeez, Paul..you little dope!)

Written by Paul (One day left to get your taxes in the mail, folks.)
4/14/10

#19 Rowing Cards get five wins in Knoxville

(Jordan Trimble smacked a two run double in the bottom of the seventh to give the Cards a come from behind 5-4 win over DePaul in Ulmer Stadium on Sunday. She also connected for her first home run of the year in the contest.)


The University of Louisville women's rowing crew defeated #17 Dartmouth in two events Saturday and gained three wins over Alabama on Lake Loudon.

"We have some things we must continue to work on as we prepare for our meet against Minnesota and Wisconsin...but I know we'll work the kinks out and make a good showing," Rowing coach Laura Aubrey commented after the contest. The Cards swept the varsity races and only lost with their novice crew...which is contining to improve, according to Aubrey.

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Jordan Trimble powered the University of Louisville's softball team to a 5-4 win in Sunday's final of the three game series. A big double in the bottom of the 7th inning, scoring Tesha Paysen and Melissa Roth proved to be the difference for the Cards, who lost the doubleheader Saturday to the Blue Demons. Trimble accounted for three of the Cards RBI's in the game, adding a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to draw the Cards within a run of DePaul at 4-3.

Melissa Roth smashed two solo homers earlier in the contest for Louisville to complete the Cards run total.

Kristen Wadwell (11-7) went the distance for the Cards win. Louisville (21-12)travels to Providence for a three game series starting April 1st.

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Were you staying up nights wondering how the Women's Basketball Invitational turned out after Louisville bowed out in the first round to Bradley? Yeah, didn't think so...Just in case you can't live without the championship game result, though...Appalachian State defeated Memphis 79-71 Sunday afternoon in Boone, NC.

The Memphis Tigers led by three at halftime after squandering a 19 point lead early in the game and also surrendered a 7 point lead in the second half to the Mountaineers in the loss.

Former Lady Card Mary Jackson will suit up for the Tigers next year after sitting out her transfer year.

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Credit where credit is due to Matthew Mitchell's Lady Cats win a big win over #1 seeded Nebraska yesterday in the NCAA regionals in Kansas City. The Cats, led by the 1-2 scoring punch of A'dia Mathies and Victoria Dunlap advance to face Oklahoma Tuesday night to try and get to Kentucky's first ever Final Four appearance for the women's team.

We figured they were pretty good when they dusted the Lady Cards in Memorial Auditroium this season. And, Dunlap and Mathies both return next year. Seven of the final eight are just playing for second place, though...no one will get within 15 of UConn the rest of the way out.

Michigan State's head women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant's very accurate statement about the Kats after losing to them in Freedom Hall last Monday:

"They're the most physical team we've played in my three years here."

Just ask Keisha Hines or Asia Taylor, who bumped, banged and battled with the aggresive Cats in Lexington. Dunlap was the MVP of the SEC this year and Mathies the Freshman of the Year in the conference. Will Big Blue Nation rally behind the women's team...now that Calipari's Cats are headed home? Except the unexpected out of these overacheivers...they could very well knock off their next opponent...a very talented Oklahoma squad that sent Notre Dame home yesterday.

Sorry, Muffett. No chance to wear the leopard skin scarf on national TV again until November.

Written by Sonja
3/19/10

Softball Cards romp at IU 11-0

The Cards get the shutout in Bloomington and evened their season record against Big 10 opponents to 3-3.

Midweek softball games on the road, especially if they are just a one game appearance and back home can sometimes be a less than exciting and exhausting up and back trip for the players. Not so yesterday in Bloomington, as the #23 UofL Softball team roared thru the Hoosiers in six innings with a 11-0 trouncing.

As they have done the majority of the season, the Cards jumped on their opponent early. In the top of the first, Melissa Roth opened with a double and moved to 3rd on Vanessa James's single. Roth scored on a Alicia Worly grounder that produced all runners safe and Chelsea Bemis singled to load the bases. Jordan Trimble's double drove in James and Worly and Brittany York's single got Bemis to the plate for the fourth run.

Louisville added 2 in the 4th inning when Jennifer Esteban singled and Roth swatted a homer. The Cards tacked on one more in the 5th. for a 7-0 lead and finished the scoring in the sixth When James, Wolny and Bemis singles filled the bases and back to back doubles by Trimble and York cleared the bases for four more runs and the final total.

Tori Collins (6-2) got the start on the mound for Sandy Pearsall's squad and delivered 4 innings of 1 hit pitching. Kristen Wadwell allowed 2 hits in 2 innings of relief. Louisville banged out 14 hits in the contest and Trimble and York drove in three runs each.

Louisville begins Big East play on Saturday at Ulmer Stadium with a double header against DePaul. First pitch is at noon. The teams will play a third game on Sunday. The Blue Demons are the defending Big East softball champs.

Written by Paul
3/25/10

Cardinal softball rolling along in Charleston Southern tourney

Led by hard hitting catcher Melissa Roth...Sandy Pearsall's University of Louisville women's softball team continues its winning ways in the Charleston Southern Invitational with wins on Friday against St. John and host Charleston Southern.

The Cards (6-1) overcame an early attack by fellow Big East member St. John enroute to a 16-2 win in the opening game. After allowing St.John two runs in the first inning, Louisville roared back to score four runs in the second inning and 12 runs in the third. The Cards tacked on four insurance runs in the fifth and final inning of the game for the 14 point win. Kristen Wadwell pitched a two hitter, going the distance and shutting out the Red Storm after a shaky first inning.

In Friday's second game the Cards played host Charleston Southern and the contest developed into a pitcher's duel. Cardinal pitcher Tori Collins held the host scoreless thru five innings and the Cards found themselves in a scoreless tie as they came to bat in the top of the sixth. Three straight singles by Jennifer Esteban, Melissa Roth and Chelsea Bemis gave UofL a 1-0 lead and a Colby Wherry sacrifice fly put the Cards up 2-0.

A home run blast in the bottom of the sixth gave Charleston Southern one back but Wadwell came in to relieve Collins and shut down Charleston Southern the rest of the way.

#15 Louisville closes out the action on Saturday against Youngstown State.

Written by Sonja
2/20/10