SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Louisville WBB faces #1 Baylor in Sweet 16

-Softball romps Syracuse 9-0

-Happy Easter!

And, so...it had come down to this. The University of Louisville women's basketball team is in Oklahoma City. Their opponent in tonight's 7 p.m. game on ESPN2 is the #1 team in the tournament, the nation, in all of women's college basketball -- the Baylor Bears. Is it unfair that the Cardinals are faced with such a monumental task after two nice wins earlier in the tournament?

Not really. To be the best, you have to beat the best. Out of the sixteen teams that made it this far...there are no pushovers. Some fans have argued that an opponent like Penn State, Kansas or Nebraska might have made a more suitable and winnable game to prolong the UofL season. The bottom line is this:

Eventually, you're going to be tested by someone who have been a better team than you. Whether it be in the regional opener, regioal final, Final Four or National Title game...your "Goliath" will eventually stand in front of you.

Look at this #5 seed. Colorado. A team that bested Louisville earlier in the year (minus Sara Hammond). Their opening game against #12 Kansas looked to be a easy advancement. Guess what? The Buffs lost. Kansas advances.

Fifth seeded Michigan State in the Bridgeport Region skated by Marist before falling to #4 Maryland. Iowa State, another five seed knocked off Gonzaga before falling to four seed Georgia. Speaking of Georgia, Andy Landers' Bulldogs pulled off the shocker of the tournament so far by upsetting Stanford last night. A #4 over a #1. Louisville is the only #5 left. The UK WBB squad rolls into the Elite Eight by downing Delaware and Della Donne. UConn handled Maryland and #2 California is making Nikki Caldwell look like a genius by topping PSU.

When in comes to facing Baylor, Jeff Walz sees it this way:

"I've told our kids that if you come out and play scared, it's not going to matter. So we're going to try to come out and attack."

No fear of Griner, of Sims, of Madden. Pope or Mulkey. Who's afraid of the big, bad Bears? Hopefully, not UofL.

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If you showed up late to the Louisville softball game Saturday, you missed the fireworks. Not the sky-exploding, multi-colored missles...just the high-powered, fence rattling Louisville bats.

The Cards pounded Syracuse early. In the bottom of the first, Sandy Pearsall's crew laid a half dozen runs on 'Cuse pitcher Lindsay Taylor. Katie Keller singled to start the game. Jordan Trimble drew a walk. Maggie Ruckenbrod's single plated Keller. Taner Fowler cleared the bases of Cards with a three-run homer to left. Kayla Soles singled and came home on a Whitney Arion single. Jasmine Smithson-Willett (WOO! HOO!) singled and Keller, batting for the second time in the inning, singled again to score Arion. 6-0 Cards before the clock struck 12:30.

Louisville added two more in the home half of the second. After Alicja Wolny was plunked by Taylor, Fowler unleashed a bomb to left for her second base-cleaner and the score was 8-0.

The Cards tacked on one more in the third. JSW got her second single of the game, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Trimble single.

Meanwhile, Caralisa Connell was "good Carl" in the pitching circle. The Orange touched her for just one hit in five innings. She struck out six in going to 18-2 on the season.

"We had another great performance from Caralisa Connell and some timely defense and great catches out there. Chrisanna Roberts had a great diving catch in right field late in the game. Taner Fowler has truly found her rhythm again. She was struggling early in the season, but what better time than right now, as we're going into conference play, this is what we want to see from her." --Sandy Pearsall, UofL head softball coach.

The Cards (28-6, 2-1) step out of BIG EAST play to host arch-rival Kentucky on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
Let's fill the seats and pack the grassy knoll for this one, Cardinal fans!

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We wish a Happy Easter to all our CARDINAL COUPLE readers. Whether it's attending church services, holding an Easter Egg Hunt, sitting down to a scrumptious Easter dinner or just relaxing and enjoying time with family or friends...we hope it's a day of rest and reflection for you.

Don't get too stuffed and fall asleep early -- the men's basketball team plays at 5:00 p.m. against Duke and the ladies follow at 7:00 p.m. And after that, it's the season-ending episode of AMC's critically acclaimed The Walking Dead at 9 p.m.  Blue Devils, Bears, and Zombies...oh my!



--Paulie


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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Softball ready for 2013

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Experience and power on hand for Softball

-Softball Dinner Saturday night @ Hyatt

Even though the weather in Louisville is below freezing, # 18 Louisville Softball is busy preparing for the opening weekend Feb 8th. in Las Vegas. The team uses the indoor Trager Center for the basics of batting and fielding and we're not sure how many holes have been put in the roof by Taner Fowler, Alicja Wolny, Maggie Ruckenbrod, Jordan Trimble and the rest of the Cards wrecking crew...but Sandy Pearsall has bats galore ready to take the Ulmer Stadium field this spring.

If there's any questions at all about the team that swept the BIG EAST last year and won 55 games, it's who will fill in for departed pitchers Tori Collins, graduated and married and Chelsea Leonard who has given up the game because of perpetually bad knees.

Caralisa Connell returns, and went 19-1 last season. Rachel LeCoq, a transfer from Colgate, is there as needed. Both freshman Jasmine Smithson-Willett and returning outfielder Jordan Trimble are able to step in the circle if needed...Coach "P" is very high on the freshman Smithson-Willett and has indicated she'll contend for a spot in the starting line-up if not throwing strikes and balls.

For Connell, a junior...it's a role she's carried before. In 2011, injuries to Leonard and Collins left Pearsall with just one pitcher...the freshman from Murfreesboro, TN. Pearsall combed the campus and came up with Katie Petrino, on campus to play golf for UofL and daughter of former football coach Bobby Petrino to bring to the roster as a backup hurler.

Connell pitched every game, every inning for a three week peroid and won 12 straight while going 20-7 on the season. There is no truth to the rumor that current golf coach Courtney Trimble has petitioned Pearsall to have Connell grab a five-iron and hit the links this spring.

Besides Smithson-Willett, two other freshmen are on the roster this year for UofL. Ally Vaughn was the 8th Region Player of the Year in Kentucky and the first baseman from Henry County High School is known to have great power at the plate. Brittany Sims was the #7 ranked player in the state. The utility player hails from Lexington (KY) Lafayette and was also a top discus performer in track and field.  

It'll be a tough lineup to crack. Fowler, Katelyn Mann, Keller, Whitney Arion, Ruckenbrod, Jennifer Esteban, Trimble, Wolny and Hannah Kiyohara all started regularly or played extensively for the Cards last year. 12 letter-winners return.

The crowds at Ulmer should be thrilled this season with a veteran and powerful lineup. If the pitching can hold, we think preseason #12 South Florida and maybe Notre Dame will be the only teams good enough to push the Cards out of the running for back-to-back titles.

Vegas...opening on Feb. 8th. Would be a great get-away weekend, if you want to combine roulette and round-trippers. I wouldn't bet against the Cards sweeping the Invitational in Sin City.

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The Softball Bullpen Dinner is tonight at the downtown Hyatt. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Washington All-American Danielle Lawrie is the featured speaker.

CARDINAL COUPLE had a wonderful time there last year and we're pleased and happy to be returning again this year. We'll have full coverage of the event in the Sunday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE and a preview of WBB vs. St. John's.

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Saturday Cardinal Couple --Volleyball, Softball register wins

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Volleyball downs USF 3-1 in Tampa

-Softball sweeps doubleheader

-Soccer falls on road to Marquette

Lola's 26 kills power Volleyball to win over USF

The University of Louisville Volleyball team improved to 13-2 with a hard-fought 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23 win over the University of South Florida yesterday evening in Tampa. Lola Arslanbekova led the way with 26 kills in the Cardinal victory and outside hitter Tanya Lukyanenko added a career high 14 slams in the 3-1 defeat of USF.

Louisville fell behind early in the first contest 12-7 and could not rally to catch the Bulls...dropping the first game of the match by five. Were the Cards a little nervous and unsure of themselves on the road against a quality opponent? 

If they were, their fears and insecurities soon dissipated...UofL gaining a 10-9 lead on USF in the second game, stretching it out to 22-18 and winning going away by seven. 

After the break, Louisville grabbed an early lead in game three and led 15-10 midway through the contest. USF rallied for five straight points though and made this one interesting until the Cards responded with four straight scores to go up 19-15 and hold that advantage for a four-point third game victory.

In the final game, the Cards led most of the way...with advantages of 13-9 and 20-17 before the Bulls tied the battle at 23-23. A Lukyanenko kill and USF error provided the final points UofL needed to take the game and match.

Softball takes two with wins over Bellarmine and EKU

Sandy Pearsall's softball squad got the fall pre-season off to a huge start by blasting Bellarmine 10-0 at Ulmer Stadium and squeaking out a close 1-0 victory over EKU in the nightcap.

A seven hit, six run  second inning proved to be all Louisville needed to down the Knights. Caralisa Connell pitched three innings to get the win and Rachel Le Coq fired the final three to preserve the shutout.

The nightcap was a pitchers duel until the bottom of the seventh. Maggie Ruckenbrod reached on a single for the Cards and pinch-runner Chrisanna Roberts scored on Whitney Arion's double an out later to give Louisville the victory. Connell got the win with four strong innings and Le Coq pitched the first three of shutout ball for Louisville.

Soccer falls 2-0 to Marquette in Milwaukee

Lack of offensive production spelled defeat for Karen Ferguson-Dayes soccer tribe yesterday in BIG EAST action.

Louisville surrendered two late second half goals in the loss to the Golden Eagles. The Cards fall to 7-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play.

Chloe Kiefer recorded eight saves in the loss. The Cards travel to Tampa on Sunday to face the USF Bulls.
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MONDAY Cardinal Couple: Softball the BIG EAST CHAMPS!

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball defeats St. John's 3-1 to sweep series


-Women's track wins 5th straight BIG EAST outdoor title


-Some final Derby Week comments


-Marinatto steps down as BIG EAST COMMISH. 

Whitney Arion's two run blast was the key for UofL.

Whitney Arion's two run blast in the fifth inning was the difference maker in Louisville Softball's 3-1 win over St. John's Sunday in Queens, NY. With the victory, Louisville sweeps the regular season-ending series against the Red Storm, finishes 50-3 on the season an 20-2 in the BIG EAST and will get the #1 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. Louisville will open up tournament play on Thursday, May 11th against #8 seed Connecticut at 12:30 p.m. The BIG EAST tournament will take place in South Bend, IN.

CARALISA Connell
started for UofL

Sunday's game was a scoreless affair for four innings matching Cards pitcher Caralisa Connell (18-1) and St. John's thrower Ashley Beza. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Arion took a Beza pitch over the left field fence to score her and Kayla Sloes, who had reached base on a Red Storm fielding error.


St. John's got a run in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Chelsea Leonard but Louisville pushed the margin to 3-1 in the top of the seventh when sophomore Jordan Trimble doubled and scored on a Maggie Ruckenbrod single.

Chelsea Leonard
picked up the save.

Leonard pitched her way out of trouble in the bottom of the seventh.  A single, walk and Leonard's second wild pitch of the game gave St. John's runners on second and third with two outs...but Leonard got Erin Burner to strike out and end the threat and the game.


It was Leonard's 10th save of the year, tops in the nation. 


A great regular season for the softball team and the road now leads to the BIG EAST Tournament and NCAA Regionals. 


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Abdullah won the
discus today

Louisville women's track and field won their fifth straight BIG EAST Championship Sunday in Tampa, FL...getting a big boost from field events for the second day in a row. Khadija Abdullah won the discus and Amashi Kendall finished third.


Michelle Theophille won her first BIG EAST high jump title and teammate Megan Schubert grabbed fourth place. Charachesicia Lockhart finished fifth in the triple jump and Ahlivia Spencer set a school record and ran sixth in the 800m. 


Final point totals:


Louisville  -  104
Notre Dame  - 99.50
South Florida - 84
Cincinnati - 81
West Virginia - 72


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The 138th Kentucky Derby is in the books now and it did answer a few questions for us but also left a few remaining questions. 

-- No doubt, the West Coast horses made a strong showing this year. Santa Anita Derby I'll Have Another won the race and Creative Cause wasn't too far back. Bob Baffert's Bodemeister set a wicked pace...maybe too fast...but was there until the final few steps. 


-- Will this be the last Derby where horses can run on Lasix? Racing commissions in Kentucky, New York and many other states are looking at a ban on the diuretic and bleeding-prevention medication. 


-- Who will come back for the Preakness? We'll know that soon enough...but unless there's injury or an owner looking to rest a horse, we expect the top five finishers from the Derby to contest the 1 3/16th event at Pimilco in two weeks. 

-- Will Hansen's owner's finally "get it" and let "Big Whitey" run in races he has a chance in...namely  anything a mile and eight or shorter? The horse looked washed out and just plain wore out after the Derby distance. 


-- Will the increases in attendance on Wednesday and Thursday during Derby week convince Churchill to offer a few stakes or Graded races those days? Honestly, the card on Thursday was just awful when it
came to feature and quality races. 


-- Does the lack of casino gambling in Kentucky kill the thoroughbred horse tracks at Churchill, Ellis Park, Turfway? Name trainers, owner and jockeys are splitting right after Derby Week and headed to higher paydays in New York and California. Wake up, Kentucky state Senate. Give the people the right to vote on it.

-- Could next year's Derby Week get any more exciting or embarrassing for media events and sensational journalism? You had Robby Albarado resurrecting his boxing career, Cyndi Lauper dropping
nasty words in front of little girls, Richie Farmer getting more print that he wanted (and not basketball-related) and a death in the barns the day after Derby. 


In all fairness, you also had one of the most exciting Derby's in the past few years...a female jockey winning the Oaks for the first time ever and a first-time jockey to Kentucky and Churchill winning the Derby. Record crowds and (mostly) great weather. 


-- The owner, trainer and jockey of I'll Have Another discuss the win at the link below


We'll have a few words about I'll Have Another 

-- Finally, we will continue our quest to be granted official media credentials to Churchill. A formal letter of request has been mailed to Darren Rogers at Churchill (per his verbal suggestion) now that Derby 138 is in the books. 


As we pointed out, we've provided 11 straight days of horse-racing articles to you...the readers. We'll go the Andy DuFresne route from the movie Shawshank Redemption. We'll mail a letter a week if we have to. 


We thank you for your e-mails and calls of support on this issue. Rogers seems to think we don't get enough "play" in our comments section. We can't control that.
No one is forcing a single reader here to make comments. We get plenty of e-mails, though...and that is proof enough to us that you're reading, have opinions and care. 


A noted writer here locally told me, in reference to his website:


"Paul, I'd do away with a message board and comments section if I could. It's the haven of flamers, idiots and mal-contents." 


They can't ignore us forever. We're not going anywhere. The gorilla in the corner is not staying quiet. Hand the ball to the girl out of bounds and drop back into the zone coverage. Game far from over. 


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John Marinatto has resigned as BIG EAST Commish. There is a God, after all. How many teams left the BIG EAST during his watch? And who came in? Bye, bye...now. See ya later. Don't let the door slam you in the back as you leave. 

A league that sorely needs direction, guidance and "out of the box thinking" was being run by a lost hippo in the rain-forest looking for a place to take a nap and a dump. Not necessarily in that order, either. 


It's nothing personal, John. I'm sure you're a great guy, super dad, wonderful hubby and a lot of fun to be around on poker night or a day at the races. 


You're just not a very good commish. 

Louisville, here's your sign for the umpteenth time. Get out. Run while you can. Go independent, BIG 12 or Bill and Ted's Excellent Conference (dude) but break the chains and run away from the small, non-football playing Catholic Universities that control the landscape of the BIG EAST. Let Providence, Villanova, St John's and Seton Hall wallow in their own self-importance. Replace your divot and drive on down the fairway, Cards. 


And, we're not religion-bashing here either. It's a matter of recent relativity relevance. And the four schools above haven't been relevant in a long time in athletics. 


Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, Miami, Virginia Tech, West Virginia...uh...we're beginning to see a trend here. Get us in the truck, Tom Jurich...and let's go.
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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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Tori Collins pitches 2nd no-hitter in a row Sunday

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Collins no-hits Longwood in 1-0 win.


-Lady Cards tidbits


Tori Collins wasn't satisfied with just one no-hitter this weekend...she turned around and tossed a second one Sunday against the Longwood Lancers. This one was a full seven-inning performance and Louisville (38-2, 9-2) swept the weekend non-conference series with a 1-0 win.

She is the first Louisville player to ever throw back-to-back no hitters. 


This one started out as a pitchers' duel and both Collins and Longwood pitcher Libby Morris had no-hit games working until the bottom of the fourth inning. After Jennifer Esteban drew a walk with one out, Kristin Austin got the first hit of the game, a single. Alicja Wolny reached on a base-on-balls to load the bags for Taner Fowler. She hit into a double play, though, that ended the inning and kept the game scoreless. 


The bottom of the fifth was when the Cards produced the only run they would need for the victory. Jordan Trimble opened the inning with a lead-off double and scored from third on freshman Whitney Arion's two-out single. 

Collins struck out six and allowed four walks over seven innings to go 17-1 on the season. Longwood's Morris allowed five hits in a tough loss over six innings. 


Louisville returns to play Wednesday when they face #16/18 South Florida in Ulmer Stadium. The double-header starts at 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. 'da Bulls' are 40-6 overall and a conference leading 13-1. Time to run with the Bulls...and head them right back to Louisville Inernational Airport with a 13-3 conference mark. 


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Thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE writer Sandy W., we have a link for the article that has the Walz Cards ranked #4 pre-season. 


Click and read away! 


Preseason WBB rankings


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WE'RE not rumor starters here at CARDINAL COUPLE. In fact, we go by the "Sgt. Schultz - I know nothing" philosophy but we're getting reports that a certain 6'3" center from Sweden may have Louisville as one of her three favorites when she comes across the Atlantic to attend college and play ball this fall.


No official report from UofL on this. The Cards do have a scholarship available, though...we're pretty sure. 


If it has any credence to it, this gal's a force to be reckoned with.


More as we find it out. Thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny for the detective work! 


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Saturday Cardinal Couple...Softball Cards take two against Rutgers

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Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE


-Louisville pitching the key in sweep 1-0, 2-0


-Keeneland offers big card for Saturday


-Women's golf in 17th place in Bryan National


-Watson discusses Bobby


The University of Louisville softball team wins two against Rutgers Friday and holds the Scarlet Knights bats to two hits in 14 innings. 

Not that the softball Cards went hog wild against Rutgers pitching (sorry Coach Petrino), but Louisville improves to 32-2 on the season and 6-2 in BIG EAST play with some timely hitting and clutch fielding against the Scarlet Knights. 


GAME 1


This one was strictly a pitchers' duel for six and a half innings. Caralisa Connell tossed four innings of one-hit softball and Alyssa Landreth held the Cards to two hits through six innings. Louisville came to bat in the bottom of the seventh tied in a scoreless thriller and drove the crowd of 600+ into a frenzy with the frenetic finish. 

After Alicja Wolny flied out to right to start the inning, Jordan Trimble drilled a single up the middle to give the Cards the winning run on base. She didn't half to wait long...Kayla Soles punished a cheating left fielder by drilling a shot over her head to send Trimble home and end the game 1-0 Cards. 


Big props to Chelsea Leonard with 3 innings of no-hit relief against the Scarlet Knights...and Jordan Trimble, who had two of the four UofL hits in the opener.


GAME 2

Jared Stillman handles the PA duties for
Cardinal Softball. He also carries this framed photo
around with him wherever he goes...

The Cards jumped on Rutgers early in the second game...Jennifer Esteban singling up the middle to open the bottom half of the first and scoring on a  Kristin Austin single to left. 


That proved to be all Louisville needed with pitching ace Tori Collins in the circle.


The senior lefty would strike out 10 Rutgers batters en route to a one-hit shutout...the only hit coming on a controversial ruling in the top of the seventh inning when Kristin Austin and Jordan Trimble both converged on a fly ball off the bat of Chandler Howard and then backed off each other...allowing the pop up to fall to the turf without a glove on it. It was judged a hit. Most would call it a fielding error.  


Honestly...Collins got robbed of a no-hitter by the call

Louisville added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth when Kayla Soles beat out an infield hit to reach first and scored when Whitney Arion rattled the left field fence with a line shot for a double. 


The regal, towering Collins (14-1) was masterful in the night cap against the Jersey girls...a couple of 3rd inning walks the only blemishes in a superb performance. If there is a better pitcher in the BIG EAST, you'll have to prove it to us. 


The teams face off tomorrow at 11 a.m. All are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt in Cardinal Park Saturday which begins at 9 a.m. The kids will love it, take them over!


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CARDINAL COUPLE makes the annual spring pilgrimage to Lexington and Keeneland Saturday. Wish us luck and keep us safe from zealous Wildcats...oh, mighty Cardinal in the sky. Ladies...you'll need to get the broom out on Rutgers without us in attendance.  (WE know you can!) 

Some winners would be nice while we're up there...


Kent Desmoreaux did well up there Friday on Keeneland's opening day. "Superman" always seems to win when Paul bets against him. We'll keep an eye on him Saturday


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The Louisville women's golf team shot a 317 in the first round of the Bryan National Collegiate tournament yesterday in Browns Summitt, NC. That puts the Cards in 17th place...27 strokes back from leader Northwestern. 


Leading the way for Louisville was junior Candice Wiley who fired a 78 in the first round. Closely behind with 79 are freshmen Emily Haas and Katie Petrino. 

Sara Karlsson turned in an 81 and senior Maria Castellanos played the 18 in 85 shots. 


The Cards start day two of the Bryan at 8:20 a.m. Saturday...in case you were thinking about driving down to be in the gallery at the Masters and wanted to get a little women's golf-watching in on the way...


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(David Watson is a special contributor to CARDINAL COUPLE. Today he comments on fast bikes, young blondes and lying to your boss. He would cover Guitars, Cadillacs and Hillbilly Music...but Dwight Yoakum has been there, done that.)

Step down, Bobby Petrino. It's the right thing to do. You can leave a note for the players in the Arkansas football locker room if you want. You can have your S.I.D. compose a touching, heartfelt statement and hold a press conference to tell the shocked Hog fans. You can twitter it if you want or change your status on Facebook. But, step down, Bobby Petrino. 

Booby, (yes, I spelled it that way originally and decided to keep it) you have taken one step over the line. Or should I say, put your ride in the woodpile. A motorcycle crash, well -- yes, most fans can forgive that. But towing a 25 yr. old blonde -- that is engaged to be married in June -- around with you that "ain't yer kin"  (to paraphrase it in "Hog-speak") and then covering up the details from your boss is a bridge too far. 



You lied to your boss Bobby. I know it isn't the first time you've done it. How many times have you since you've been in Arkansas, though?


And now we learn about the "inappropriate conduct". It can't be considered "getting lucky in Kentucky". How about "getting a thrill in Fayetteville?" Morality out the window like a dropped pass with no coverage. 

And, indeed, you got lucky. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is playing Russian roulette. I've done accident claims on wrecks where the driver and the passenger didn't walk away. And, what if this young, if un-witting, girl had been injured or died. Would you want that cross to bear? 

Walk away from it and give it a rest for a couple of years. Do some public service work or write a book. Visit the Himalayas or spend some time chopping wood (maybe even with Greg Schiano) around your Ozark cabin or in Tampa Bay. 


Let the furor, the outrage and the comments die down. Someone, somewhere will hire you to coach down the road. Maybe not at the $3.5 'grrr' that you're finding in Fayetteville -- but enough to pay for some motorcycle repairs and a few sessions with a therapist. 

Walk away from it and examine where life has led you so far. Job hopping like a migrant worker during the growing season. Leaving wakes of controversy at each stop along the way. Building successful football programs at a couple of schools and then punting the ball directly into the stands. 


Think of the "fam" and try to repair the damages you've done.  You've got a loving (at last check) wife, one kid that has had a history of substance abuse problems and a daughter that has potential as a possible pro tour golfer someday. Do you really want to continue to drag them through the briars and the bushes with your self-motivated and altruistic ways? 

I read here today that your daughter Katie shot a 79 in the first round of a tournament she's in representing the University of Louisville. With all the pressure you've tossed on her shoulders, it's a wonder she broke 100. And, the looks, the talk behind her back and the well-meaning but embarrassing comments she's going to have to endure the rest of the semester and beyond -- why, Bobby, why? 


Step down, Bobby. It's the right thing to do. If not for you, then the family. Own this one, Coach, and turn your life around. 

It's Easter weekend. A time where we rejoice in the wonderful story of Jesus Christ rising from the dead and saving us sinners. 


It's Passover also. Pass the reigns (or the Harley) over to someone else and reflect, renew and rebuild. Let someone else lead the exodus out of embarrassment you've brought on Arkansas football.  


Jesus Christ, Bobby. Step down and sit on the sidelines for awhile. We could all use a break from the drama. 


(David Watson spends several hours each Saturday prior to Easter hiding his golf balls in the woods for kids to find. Most of us call it "tee-ing off." and would spend considerable time shouting "fore" if we played like David.)


(Tom Watson, he ain't.) 
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Softball wins doubleheader to go to 26-0...L1C (final) 4 !!!

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball takes two from Pitt to go to 26-0


-L1C(final)4. Cards headed to New Orleans! 


-"Three" has a different meaning around Cards softball.


-Lacrosse loses narrowly to undefeated Irish.


Louisville softball rallied from deficits in both games today to sweep the double-header and go to 26-0 on the season. 3-1 and 4-3 were the final scores.


GAME ONE

Banner over left field fence

Took a different approach to game viewing today. Instead of hanging in the press box, I brought a folding lawn chair and took in the action from left-center field behind the fence. The outfielders probably would have disapproved if I'd made camp on the field in left-center in front of the fence. Seated over to the right of me was Cards basketball star Becky Burke, enjoying the afternoon from the grassy berm with a couple of friends.


Arriving in the second inning of game one, it was obvious that the Cards were waiting for me to get there before getting the action started...trailing 1-0.


In the bottom of the fourth, Louisville struck for their three runs...getting a lead-off double from Taner Fowler and Kirsten Straley came in to pinch-run for her. She got to third on a Alicja Wolny single and scored on Jordan Trimble's infield single. Maggie Ruckenbrod drove a double to the base of the fence (and right in front of me in left-center) to score Wolny and Trimble to make it 3-1.


Pitt threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs...but Chelsea Leonard struck out Pitt left-fielder Carissa Throckmorton to get out of the jam and end the game.

Cloudy skies over Ulmer Stadium grandstands

By then, I had temporarily moved to the press box to pick up  lineup and information sheets. I also kidded public address announcer Jared (J-Bone) Stillman about being up there in shorts and sandals. He offered a well-thought out and lucid response. 


While walking to the press box I noticed Shoni, Tia and Sherrone in attendance cheering on the squad. We've been told that Shoni's a pretty good softball player, in addition to her hoop skills. Wonder what kind of eye-popping, incredible moves she has on the diamond? No-look throws to first base after fielding grounders? Picture perfect tosses to home plate from way beyond the outfield warning track? 


Earlier, I had jokingly yelled out to Pitt's Chrissa Throckmorton to 'take it easy on us' when she was standing in front of me in left field....we wanted to stay undefeated. She obviously takes direction and commands well by striking out with the bags loaded...but she is a talented freshman for the Panthers and will prosper against ACC competition down the road. 


Tori Collins got the start and the win for Louisville, going four innings...striking out five, allowing one run and five hits. Chelsea Leonard earned the save...going three innings and giving up one hit while fanning four.   


GAME TWO


I returned to the outfield for the start of game two and Louisville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Kristin Austin scored after reaching first on a error, stole second and came home on a Taner Fowler's fielders' choice.

Bill Hancock was in attendance at three different UofL
sporting venues Saturday. Looks like that plan to get
him out of the house is working, Barb...

I also ran into buddy Bill Hancock on the path that circles the outfield. Talk about a busy Saturday...he had already been to watch football practice, the baseball game and was planning on heading home in time to watch the men's basketball game. 


Wonder if he caught a jet and flew up to South Bend to take in a little lacrosse? Bill's a great guy and does a lot of things with the Central Cardinal Club. His wife Barbara is an avid Cardinal fan as well and we sat with them at many UofL women's and men's basketball games for years. They also help organize and run road trips each year for women's basketball and baseball. 


Pitt took the lead with two runs in the top of the third but Louisville once again used the fourth inning to explode. Trimble drew a walk, Ruckenbrod reached on a fielders' choice...Trimble safe at second and Whitney Arion lifted a deep fly to (you guessed it) left-center that landed about 10 feet behind me and rolled across Arthur Street for the three-run homer. I joyously jumped up to retrieve the blast and returned it one of the Cards Care yellow shirt attendants. 4-2 Cards.

Friendly Cards Care attendants who were on the berm
with me.

I thought about hanging on to it and getting it autographed after the game...but I found out that a player who parks one out of the stadium gets the option of keeping the ball...so I gladly turned Arion's fourth home run ball of the season back over to Yellow Shirt custody. Send me a autographed practice ball, Coach Pearsall. 


Pitt made it 4-3 in the fifth when Maggie Sevilla blasted a shot over the (could it be??) no...it was to center field fence...the blast nearly landing in Cardinal WBB star Sara Hammond's lap. Her group returned the blast over the fence but was chastised for doing so by the yellow-shirt authority. As explained to me, what if the return throw hit a player on the head or interfered with play?


Always give the ball to a yellow-shirt, fans.


After the blast, Caralisa Connell gave way to Leonard...who finished the game for her second save of the day...holding Pitt score-less over 2.2 innings. Connell got the win, going to 9-0.


26-0. Game Sunday at noon. Head out for the sweep. 


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Glory, hallelujah! We're headed to New Orleans! 

The Cards are headed to New Orleans!! The improbable win, after being down by 11 after Erving Walker hit four free throws after a Rick Pitino technical, puts the Cards in the FINAL FOUR. 72-68...Louisville ending the game on a 23-8 run...Chane Behanan hitting the winner with 1:06 on the clock. 


Fitting that Louisville wins. All five commentators on CBS picked against them on Thursday night to lose to Michigan State before that game and then to lose to Florida after Louisville beat the Spartans. Keep choosing the opposition, Barkley and boys. 

Regional trophy (Courtesy @howielindsey)

Pitino is now 7-0 against former assistant and player Billy Donovan. That's gotta hurt. Even though some of those were Kentucky wins against Marshall...it's a whitewash. Donovan and Pitino are close, as evidenced in Billy the Kid's and Rick's post-game interviews, but only one survives and advances in this case. 

And...Louisville is in the FINAL FOUR! 




They'll face the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday. Time for revenge on the earlier season loss to them...


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Cardinal basketball fans delight in hearing public address announcer Sean Moth boom out "Threeeeeee Kyle !" or "Threeeeeee Becky !"when one of the UofL men's or women's basketball players hit one from beyond the arc. Over at Ulmer Stadium, though, "three" has a different connotation. 

Connell got a win in the
second game vs. Pitt.

For many softball fans, it's a description of the three pitchers on the current softball roster. The "three" have combined for some pretty amazing numbers so far this season inside the pitching circle. 


The Cardinal pitching staff of Tori Collins, Chelsea Leonard and Caralisa Connell have combined for 1.05 ERA and are holding opponents to a .166 batting average thru 24 games. They have tossed 12 shutouts and recorded 195 strikeouts in 159.1 innings of work. Through 26 games, Collins is 12-0, Connell is 9-0 and Leonard 5-0. All three have been named to the BIG EAST Softball honor this year for outstanding performances and Collins was chosen BIG EAST Player of the Week back on Feb 13th.

Tori Collins, a lefty, got the win
in the first game vs. Pitt.

Collins is a senior from Lafayette, IN. She wears #25 and is the tallest of the three at 5'10". Connell is a sophomore and stands 5'8". She's out of Murfreesboro, TN and has #13 on the back of her jersey. Leonard wears #10 and is a 5'8" red-shirt sophomore from Lexington, NC. They're three of four tallest on the softball roster...junior Alicja Wolny stands 5'9". 

Chelsea Leonard picked
up two saves vs. Pitt.

The pitching staff is a far cry from last season...when injuries had head coach Sandy Pearsall down to just freshman Connell and walk-on Katie Petrino from the women's golf team to choose from for a significant stretch during the season. 


A popular adage notes that "hitting fills the bleachers but pitching wins games" and it seems to be true for the Louisville softball team this year. 


The crowds are the largest in recent memory and the team is undefeated. Plus, UofL representatives toss out free peanuts and stuffed Cardinal Birds to the fans. All they're missing is Louie the Cardinal Bird and radio broadcasts. They will be on 11.1 WHAS TV locally for Sunday's game. Haven't tried to find that channel yet. 


Be sure to catch the Louisville Softball team in action as the spring progresses. They have 11 home games left...including today's noon first pitch against Pitt. In-state rival Kentucky visits on April 4th, and BIG EAST foes Rutgers, USF and Georgetown will be making visits to Ulmer Stadium. 


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Louisville Lacrosse lost a close one to Notre Dame yesterday in South Bend 13-11. The Cards led early 5-1 but couldn't prevent the Irish comeback.


Louisville is 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in the BIG EAST. The Irish improved to 7-0 and are 1-0 in the BIG EAST. Louisville has never defeated UND in lacrosse.


Rebuilding season for Coach Kellie Young. Have to go through those from time to time. The lacrosse team is in the midst of a five game road trip swing that ends Tuesday with a match against the Cincinnati Bearcats. 
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