March 19. 2019, Vol 93 No. 24 by The Louisville Cardinal

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College of Education Dean to switch roles SAM COMBEST

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University of Louisville Provost Beth Boehm announced March 15 that College of Education and Human Development Dean Ann Larson will soon move aside to become a special assistant to President Neeli Bendapudi. Larson has been the dean of CEHD since 2014 and has worked at U of L 24 years. In her new role, Larson will help more local students get to and through U of L. She begins April 8. According to Boehm’s email, Larson has been asked to help with “P-20 Strategy to work with school districts, U of L leadership, and business leaders to develop a plan to get more partner district students to,

through, and successfully beyond their U of L degree.” Larson’s leadership as dean has come under scrutiny by some faculty members noting the loss of 21 faculty members, 12 of which being people of color. According to U of L media spokesman John Karman, Larson moving over to this new role is not related to the complaints against her. An interim dean will be named once Larson officially leaves her dean position. In a letter given to the Cardinal from a group of faculty, Boehm mailed CEHD faculty and staff members Jan. 14, to address some of the concerns brought by faculty members. The letter discusses how Boehm will deal with the climate, based on various climate surveys sent to CEHD. Boehm said she contacted consultant Kate Eb-

ner to identify and tackle ways to enhance the climate. Larson will begin her new role starting April 8, when an interim dean will be named for CEHD. Karman said there will be a national search for the position. Larson sent a letter to students, faculty and staff notifying them of her upcoming change. The letter read, “I am stepping away knowing that we have done so much good together, and I am truly excited to participate in the next era of our College from my faculty office or in other professional opportunities following a sabbatical in 2019-20.” Larson was not immediately available for comment.

NEWS

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University addresses homophobic remarks from faculty member to Louisville Ballet SAM COMBEST @SAMICOMBEST

University of Louisville Provost Beth Boehm and Medical School Dean Toni Ganzel sent an email to campus March 7 stating their commitment to diversity and inclusion, after a homophobic email from a university faculty member sent to the Louisville Ballet came to light. University spokesman John Karman confirmed the faculty member to be Dr. Roberto Bolli, a researcher at U of L medical school. Bolli is the Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the medical school. Reports say the email was first sent March 2018 when the ballet first advertised the show. Karman said the university was made aware of the email in February when it was provided to the university. In the email Boehm said, “We have been made aware of an inflammatory email from one of our faculty members to the Louisville Ballet about his concerns regarding a recent performance.

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The message appears to be a personal one; the faculty member did not mention the university of use his title in the email. Still, his words have proven hurtful to many of our faculty, staff and students, particularly those in the LGBT

U of L Dance Academy Closes to close after 45 years

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University of Louisville announced March 15 that after 45 years the doors to the U of L Dance Academy will close its doors due to low enrollment. University spokesman John Karman said along with the closure will come five faculty layoffs. The dance academy first opened in 1972 providing training to people of all ages. Once properly trained to a certain level students could either pursue dance professionally or recreationally. The program is part of the School of Music and is joined with the U of L Dance Theatre which will close alongside the ULDA program. ULDA has a pre-professional, civic level ballet company that teaches grade school and high school students in hopes they continue after high school graduation.

community.” Boehm also called the comments “disheartening.” Reminding campus “They do not represent the values we hold dear at the University of Louisville.” The Ballet was performing “Human

Tuition ranges between $350 to over $1,000 for certain apprenticeships. According to the U of L website, students have also been invited to study in internationally recognized summer programs such as the School of American Ballet in New York, the American Ballet Theatre School, the Royal Winniepeg Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, the Royal Ballet School (London) and more. Alumni that have advanced are dancing professionally throughout the United States and Canada. Companies alumni dance for include the New York City Ballet, the American Repertory Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada. ULDA’s closure will go into effect June 30 according to Karman. Information regarding the enrollment numbers over the last 45 years was not readily available.

FILE PHOTO / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL

Abstract,” which is meant to explore the life and love in the LGBT community. Outlets such as WLKY reported on the message Louisville Ballet had posted on their social media combatting homophobic remarks and hate they had received. The outlet Arts Writing is Dead first reported the story and included the email. The email started off saying, “I am shocked and profoundly offended by the brochure that the Louisville Ballet sent me on March 3, 2018 (I returned it to you). You have reached a new low.” According to several outlets Bolli has lost his editor-in-chief position at the American Heart Association. As far as his position at the university, Karman said the university is unable to comment on personnel matters. Bolli has made headlines in the past, receiving a $4.3 million grant to complete stem-cell research in a hope to find a cure for heart failure.

The University-wide commencement ceremonies will be held at the KFC Yum! Center.

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MARCH. 19, 2019 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM

Meningitis case confirmed on campus MAGGIE VANCAMPEN @GOINCAMPEN

University officials confirmed March 8 a dorm resident had been diagnosed and hospitalized with highly-contagious bacterial meningococcal meningitis. No updates on the student have been stated. The residential hall and student were not identified. The email said the student’s roommate has not shown any symptoms and is being given preventative care. Are you at risk? Dr. Phillip Bressoud, executive director of Campus Health Services, said that high risk students were notified and offered prophylactic antibiotics by either the health department or Campus Health Services. ”Providers who care for children, adolescents and young adults are always considering meningitis in the assessment of any patient with fever, headache and neck stiffness,” said Bressoud. “These classic signs of meningitis are a red flag for health care providers.” Symptoms: The email outlined some symptoms, including nausea, headaches, fevers and vomiting. A rash that looks like purple

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spots on the body may also appear. Bressoud said any patients that describe these symptoms are quickly seen and referred to the emergency department. If students call they recommend to go to the hospital immediately. What’s the big deal? Meningitis is a bacteria that can affect the brain and spinal cord. Types B, C and Y are the most prominent in the United States.

The email said, “In the US, approximately 800-1,500 people are infected with meningococcal meningitis and 120 die from the disease per year.” How it spreads: The email also said, “Bacterial meningitis is contagious but is only transmitted through direct exchange of respiratory or throat secretions.” The email said coughing, kissing and drinking after each other are the main

ways the bacteria spreads. Bressoud said, “By far the most common cause of meningitis in the college age group are viruses.” Meningitis can also be caused by bacteria and other infections. Wash your hands: The email said the best way to prevent contamination is through vaccination and consistent hand washing. It cautioned against sharing anything that’s been close to someone’s mouth like lip balm, water bottles, smoking materials and eating utensils. John Drees, interim senior associate vice president of communications and marketing, said, “We are always concerned when one of our students presents with a serious illness.” ”Our top priorities are to get that student treatment as soon as possible and to identify and protect those who may be a risk.” Contact Campus Health Services at 502-852-6479 or your health care provider for additional questions and concerns. There are currently no updates available on the student with the confirmed case or their roommate.

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UofL unveils new Rowan St. Building in Portland neighborhood

March 5, President Neeli Bendapudi and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kimberly Kempf-Leonard unveiled the Rowan St. Building. The building is now the home of U of L Anthropology department and the Hite Art Institute offering studios for MFA students and labs for Anthropology students with archive space.

Artifacts from the Anthropology department archives and MFA Student art which is displayed in a gallery-esque room. PHOTOS BY SAM COMBEST / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL

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OPINION MARCH 19, 2019 | PAGE SIX

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The case for compensation: pay student-athletes QUINTEZ BROWN @QUINTEZ_BROWN

The NCAA needs to compensate college student-athletes. We are inching closer and closer to March Madness. The annual NCAA college basketball tournament generates billions of dollars in revenue. None of this revenue goes to the stars of the show. The basketball players. According to SB Nation, last year the NCAA received $857 million from Turner Sports for broadcasting rights of the basketball tournament. In total, the NCAA makes $11 billion annually from college sports. Athletes take home none of it. The disparity gets uglier when you realize that the NCAA isn’t harboring all the money. Out of the total $1.07 billion dollars made from March Madness, the NCAA paid $560 million to Division I schools. None paid out to Division I athletes. In fact, Forbes recently ranked U of L as the most valuable college basketball team in the nation. The report said U of L basketball had average revenue of $52 million and profits of $30 million from the 20142015 season through the 2016-2017

season. Now, the money that schools receive from the NCAA does support athletes. They benefit from academic scholarship and athletic program funding. The schools and athletic departments have the freedom to decide where they invest their revenue. According to Forbes, most of this money goes towards hiring coaches, athletic directors and administrators. In most states, the highest paid public official is a head coach of a university’s football or men’s basketball team. Coaches are making millions, while players receive a scholarship. Freshman marketing major Merise Mywambayi says that the scholarship and benefits that athletes’ receive is fair compensation. “They are already getting paid with the full scholarships that they’re receiving,” said Mywambayi. Comparing college athletes to traditional students, senior sociology major David Mucker agrees that their benefits are a privilege. “Essentially, people feel that the value of what they receive in food, housing, etc., is already payment enough when you consider how tra-

ditional students experience college,” said Mucker. Nonetheless, Mucker contends that the value of student-athletes’ benefits is negligible compared to the amount of revenue that they make for their school. “However, I feel that in relation to how much money college athletics makes off the athletes themselves, to players their worth, that number would be minimal,” said Mucker. Mwambyai argues that being an athlete in college is enough of a benefit. He warrants that student-athletes go to college to learn. A funded college education in of itself is a privilege. “Being a college athlete is a privilege but also when you look, athletes are labeled student-athletes,” said Mwambayi. “The student part comes first and they are not professionals.” Although they are not professionals, student-athletes are not students first when they represent their school. They are the marketing and labor for a lucrative billion dollar industry. A freshman member of U of L’s marching band and pep band Mikaela Bertholf says that the determina-

tion and dedication to a sport is reason enough for compensation. She is a compensated student-athlete for being apart of the pep band, but only receives the academic scholarship for the marching band. “My compensation for each game goes to me because it’s like a job. We are the entertainment that people are paying to watch and we should be treated accordingly,” said Bertholf. America has a history of institutions that use unpaid labor for lucrative revenue: slavery and the prison system. According to The Intercept, the NCAA actually justified not compensating athletes by citing the legality of unpaid prison labor. The system of compensation would be complex, but an important first step would be recognizing that student-athletes aren’t just playing for fun. Their mental and physical sacrifices are enough reason to pay them. Considering the money that NCAA, schools, and coaches receive, being a student-athlete should be looked at as a job as well.NCAA, schools, and coaches receive, being a student-athlete should be looked at as a job as well.

GRAPHIC BY SHAYLA KERR / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL

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New restaurant in Cardtowne, the Subway of pizza: Topp’t JOSEPH GARCIA @JOSEPH_G08

As students return back from break, a new restaurant awaits them on Cardinal Boulevard. Located between Quill’s coffee shop and Noodles and Company, Topp’t is a brick-oven pizza restaurant that opened a few days before Spring Break. The store has opened in the spot previously taken by Griff’s, a sports bar and

grill that closed its doors in 2018. Topp’t offers handmade pizzas, wraps and chopped salads. Topp’t accepts Cardinal Cash like other eateries on campus. ”It’s like Subway, but for pizza,” said senior psychology major Adrieaan Armstrong. The weekend before break, the store offered free pizza to their customers as part of their training weekend. Many students thought this was a great promotion on the restaurant’s part. ”It was a smart business strategy to get people in to try the food,” said senior individualized major Pheonix Washington. And while most students have so far welcomed the new restaurant with open arms, there are some who compare the new restaurant to a discount Blaze, another pizza place in Louisville. ”For the price, it’s okay. I don’t like that drinks are separate because it isn’t

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH GARCIA / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL

stated anywhere,” said Washington. However, for Armstrong the convenience and quality of the food is perfect. ”The food is probably the best on campus and it’s affordable for students

on a budget but still want good food,” Armstrong said. ”I live right above it, so now I have to tell myself not to get pizza all the time.”

SPORTS

MARCH 19, 2019 | PAGE NINE

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Men’s basketball down to final opportunity to prove itself MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

For the second time since 2007, men’s basketball returns to the NCAA tournament following a one-year absence. The Louisville Cardinals (20-13) earned a No. 7 seed in the Big Dance and look to make a deep run after losing to Virginia in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. All season long, the conversation about this team has centered around its unrealized potential to compete for an entire game. From its November loss against Tennessee to its February defeat against Duke, Louisville has demonstrated the talent to contend with the best of the best. “The best teams in the country are who we’re going up against,” sophomore Jordan Nwora said. “They’re teams that are going to be competing for a national championship. It definitely prepares you for that next step.”

Contending is not enough, as teams need the ability to finish games in order to become a victor. The Cards have shown they can finish high-octane fights, with wins over Michigan State, Seton Hall, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The problem is consistency, and whether head coach Chris Mack’s team has the capacity to carry over consistency into the NCAA tournament. Even though they lost five of their last seven games, the Cardinals still believe they have it in them to do so. It will take extreme resolve and poise to back up that confidence with success. “We’ve got to execute the game plan,” graduate guard Christen Cunningham said. “We know what we have to do to beat teams. The coaches do a great job of putting us in a position to be successful, but they can’t get out there and play transition D for us or do whatever the game

plan is for that particular opponent. We just have to concentrate and lock in on it.” One other issue with Louisville involves costly mistakes. Unlike more talented teams, the Cardinals do not have the luxury of being able to play poorly and still win. Teams like Duke, who beat Louisville after trailing by 23 points, can afford to lag and make up for it later. It may sound cliche, but this is true: Every Louisville player must perform well for the team to succeed in the NCAA tournament. Down to its last opportunity to prove itself, the Cardinals cannot struggle shooting, rebounding, defending or turning the ball over. If Louisville can execute its game plan, a Sweet 16 run is definitely possible. If not, an earlier exit seems more likely. And if the latter scenario occurs, the question will be asked: Was Mack’s first season as Junior forward V. J. King. head coach a success or simply acceptable?

FILE PHOTO / TLC

Women’s basketball shoots for national title despite ACC performance MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

Women’s basketball matched up with Notre Dame much differently this season compared to last year. Louisville defeated its conference foe in the 2018 ACC Tournament, while Notre Dame came out on top in 2019. The Fighting Irish defeated the Cardinals 99-79, revealing weaknesses Louisville must remedy before the NCAA Tournament. These problems revolve around defense, rebounding and health. Concerning defense, Notre Dame’s 27 points in the first quarter were the most allowed by Louisville in that quarter all season. In addition, Notre Dame’s 99 points were the most allowed by Louisville in a game since the 2009-10 season. Defense has not been a issue all season by any means, as the Cards held Connecticut to just 69 points when the two juggernauts met. The main concern is Notre Dame’s 72 points in the paint, so Louisville needs to work at defending the area better against bigger opponents. Connected with defense is rebounding, where Notre Dame held a 44-29 advantage. Unlike defense, rebounding has been a problem for Louisville previously and remains an aspect of the game the team should keep in mind. “There are definitely things that we can

fix,” senior Arica Carter said. “It’s not only Notre Dame that we struggled rebounding against. We can focus on it so it won’t be a problem in the NCAA Tournament.” The reasons the Cardinals struggled with defense and rebounding are not necessarily complicated, and they revolve around two players: Carter and Sam Fuehring. Carter missed out on the Notre Dame game due to a knee injury, and Fuehring played limited minutes because of an ankle sprain. Both seniors are vital parts of Louisville’s team - Fuehring is the leading reSeniors Sam Fuehring (left) and Arica Carter (right), sidelined by injuries in bounder, Carter the starting point guard the ACC tournament, will be good to go for the NCAA tournament. - and their unlucky absences could cer FILE PHOTOS / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL tainly have contributed to the magnitude of the loss to Notre Dame. Luckily enough, Carter and Fuehring will both be good to play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. And with this problem fixed, it’s not unthinkable for Louisville to rebound from its ACC performance for a national championship. The Cards have proven they are one of the best, led by All-American senior Asia Durr and coach of the year candidate Jeff Walz. The road will not be easy, but Louisville has as good a chance as any school to win its final game. “This is not our final goal,” Durr said 7904 Preston Hwy after the loss to Notre Dame. “We’ve just Louisville, KY 40219 $10 off Tattoo (502) 964-8774 got to learn from it and continue pushing PROUD MEMBERS $5 off Piercing Must Show Student ID www.tattoocharlies.com forward.” VERIFY AT SAFEPIERCING.ORG

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Forrest, Wasike earn All-American honors at NCAA Indoor Championships MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

Following a fourth-place finish at the ACC Indoor Championships, women’s track and field sent Makenli Forrest and Dorcas Wasike to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Alabama. Both Cardinals competed hard and earned AllAmerican honors for their performances. Forrest capped a standout sophomore season in the weight throw with second place at the NCAAs. She began competition in Birmingham ranked eighth nationally in the weight throw, underscoring the significance of her high-level performance.

“That was an exciting competition,” head coach Dale Cowper said. “For Makenli to come into the event ranked eighth and finish as the NCAA runner-up is simply a testament to her competitive nature and her ability to maintain composure today.” Through the current season, Forrest has won the weight throw four times and finished in the top four of all six of Louisville’s meets. She threw a personal-best 22.54m/73-11.50 in the final round of the NCAAs to grab second place and firstteam All-American honors. “Her future is bright and I look forward to having the opportunity to con-

tinue working with her over the next few years,” Cowper said of Forrest. Also distinguishing herself alongside Forrest was Wasike. The redshirt sophomore finished ninth in the 5,000 meters for her first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Wasike ran well at the ACC Championships a couple of weeks before, finishing second in the 5,000 meters and first in the 3,000 meters. She ranked fifth in the nation in the 5,000 meters prior to the NCAAs, though coach Cowper said Wasike’s finish is still a high accomplishment. “Dorcas lined up against the best women in the country and gave a tremendous

effort,” Cowper said. “While it’s not the result she was hoping for, we are proud of the way she represents our program and the university.” Wasike earned second-team AllAmerican honors for her performance, officially becoming a two-time Cross Country All-American, an Outdoor Track All-American and now an Indoor Track All-American. “I don’t know many college students that can be competitive at an All-American level for 10 months out of the year while pursuing a nursing degree,” Cowper said. “But that’s what (Wasike) has been able to do.”

No. 7 baseball sweeps back-to-back Lacrosse shows promise series against ranked opponents despite 0-3 start in ACC play

MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

Seventh-ranked baseball is hitting a team-wide stride 20 games into the 2019 season. Louisville is now 16-4 following back-to-back sweeps of Ole Miss and Duke. Both top-25 opponents, the Rebels and Blue Devils provided some of the toughest competition the Cardinals have seen. The two series proved U of L can play with the best of the best, while exhibiting the continued breakout play of select players. Louisville capped a 14-game home stand with a two-game midweek series against Ole Miss, also ranked No. 7 in the nation. The Cards topped the first contest 4-3, winning in walk-off fashion courtesy of sophomore Zach Britton. “We’re trying to have a little more edge in the dugout, a little more enthusiasm, a little more emotion,” head coach Dan McDonnell said. “This is college baseball. We don’t want to sit back. We’re not big leaguers. It’s not 162 games, it’s 56. We’re just trying to emphasize playing for each other.” The second contest ended as a scoringfest, with Louisville beating Ole Miss 10-

8. The Louisville bats combined for 13 hits and double digit runs for the sixth time this season, validating the strength of the offense when it works together. “It’s easy for guys to get selfish early in the season, where they’re fighting for their job and they want to play,” McDonnell said. “It doesn’t make them bad kids. But sometimes we lose focus of the team and what we’re trying to do together. We’re trying to re-emphasize those things and the team has responded.” Louisville followed its sweep of Ole Miss at home with a sweep of No. 24 Duke on the road. The series in Durham, NC marked five straight wins for the Cardinals, along with a 5-1 record in ACC play. The Cards won the first matchup 8-3 and the second matchup 2-1. Despite trailing 4-1 in the third matchup, Louisville mustered a rally for the 8-6 victory and sweep of the series. Reid Detmers and Nick Bennett continued to show their dominance on the mound, both posting their fourth wins of the season. Louisville baseball begins an eightgame home stand against Georgia Tech on Friday, March 22 at 6 p.m.

PHOTO BY JESSICA ABELL / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL

MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

After failing to win a match in their conference last year, lacrosse has started the current season in similar fashion. Louisville is 4-6 overall and 0-3 in ACC play with six contests remaining in the 2019 regular season. The Cards’ conference performance doesn’t necessarily speak to a lack of talent on the team, so much as the level of competition they face. The ACC is the toughest lacrosse conference in the country, and every match becomes a struggle to come out on top. What’s important to note is that Louisville, under head coach Scott Teeter, shows promise despite the ACC losses. The Cardinals are 3-3 in their last six matches, with victories against solid opponents and a close call against a topranked opponent. Conference play began with a 16-4 loss at No. 19 Notre Dame. Louisville turned things around with a 15-5 win at Butler, marking the program’s first win on the road this season. Next came another ranked opponent: No. 15 Duke. The Cardinals played the Blue Devils to the wire, losing 11-10 in three overtimes. With a season-high 25 turnovers,

Duke found a solid match in Louisville. This proves that, when consistent, Louisville has the ability to hang with elite teams. Louisville followed its near-win with back-to-back victories against Duquesne and Cincinnati. Senior Tessa Chad, who leads the team with 33 goals this season, set a school record against the Duquesne Dukes with nine goals in the 23-13 dub. Four Cardinals scored hat tricks in the 18-12 win against Cincinnati, including sophomore Kayla Marshall with a careerhigh four goals. Louisville’s last game, a 14-7 loss to No. 4 Syracuse, further demonstrated the difficulty of managing such a tough schedule. “It’s got to be the fatigue factor,” Teeter said. “It’s a tough stretch of our schedule. We have to come ready to play and come with a clear head and be focused all the time, not just in spurts.” Next up, Louisville lacrosse travels to face Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. If the Cardinals can find it in themselves to play with consistency and together as a team, they have a good chance to finish close to a .500 season. “We’re starting to hit our stride,” Teeter said. “We grew confidence off the Duke game, even though it wasn’t the outcome we wanted. We knew that we could play at a high level.”

MARCH 19, 2019 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM

SPORTS

Satterfield instilling culture of positivity for football

Under head coach Scott Satterfield, football recently held a spring showcase. The event is a change from the program’s previous annual spring game.

Redshirt junior running back Dae Williams.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Malik Cunningham.

Redshirt sophomore fullback Isaac Martin.

PHOTOS TARIS SMITH / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL CONNER FARRELL

@CONNERFARRELL9

March is finally here, and with much of the attention drawn to the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they prepare to make some noise in their respective tournaments, an interesting development is unfolding for the football team behind the scenes. Louisville recently held its spring showcase on March 7. Under new leadership, the program elected to have that open practice as opposed to an annual spring game. This demonstrated not only a renewed focus on instilling the new X’s and O’s on the field, but also a shift in the culture of the team as a whole. A story featured in The Athletic detailed first-hand accounts of how first-year head

coach Scott Satterfield is changing the Cards’ environment. Bruce Feldman’s feature showed exactly what was going on in the past and what this new regime is doing to change old ways. “The eye opening moment is once I’d gotten hired and three days later, you come talk with some people,” Satterfield told The Athletic. “I was the only one here. Talk to a secretary or some other people in the building and start asking some questions. And you’re like, ‘Really? That’s what was happening? Wow.’ Just the fact that the players didn’t know where my office was up here. They’re never been down here on the second floor. I’m thinking, ‘Really?’ They never came down here on this end of the hall.” Over the last five seasons, players were

unaware of where the coaching staff offices were within the facilities at Cardinal Stadium. Undoubtedly, this created a disconnect. In addition, alienation between local high school coaches and Louisville’s football program has been made well-known in past years. In the last weekend of February alone, Satterfield opened up the practice facilities to 200 high school coaches from across the country. “I didn’t know Scott at all,” co-defensive coordinator Cort Dennison said. “But if you were to ask anyone in this profession about Scott Satterfield, there’s not one person who will say a negative thing about him. This is a very tight-knit profession. They’re people I trust. That made

this very easy.” These actions taken within the first couple months shed light on the 180-degree makeover that is underway, and how positivity may produce wins in the 2019 season. “We’re letting everybody in the building know, ‘Hey, let’s focus on the positive stuff.’ It’s a mindset,” Satterfield said. “If you speak what you speak, a lot of times you speak it into existence. If you’re talking negative stuff all of the time, guess what? There’s going to be some bad stuff. Let’s be positive, and eventually it’s gonna start happening.” As summer practices will soon arrive for the team to work on the gridiron, this new mindset for the program will be ongoing 24/7.

SPORTS

MARCH 19, 2019 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM

Midseason observations as softball starts ACC play MATT BRADSHAW @BRADMATT8

versatility. The senior is batting .314 with 20 RBIs, alongside leading the pitching staff with a 7-1 record and 1.38 ERA. Fellow senior Sidney Melton powers the lineup with speed and her .318 batting average. She leads the team with 13 stolen bases, recently setting a school record with four steals in a game. Three more players are batting over .300 in the starting lineup: Freshman Rebecca Chung at .393, junior Celene Funke at .383 and freshman Taylor Roby at .360. Funke leads the ACC with eight triples and tops the team with 26 runs scored. Roby, with a 6-1 record on the mound, joins Hensley on a pitching staff ranked second in the ACC with its team ERA. Sophomore Danielle Watson, who struggled early in the season but has since found a stride, holds a 6-6 record with a team-high 80 strikeouts.

Softball has put together a solid start to its 2019 season. Louisville holds a 19-8 overall record under first-year head coach Holly Aprile with 12 wins out of its last 14 games. On top of that, the Cardinals topped Syracuse in their ACC opening series. The 2-1 split is a solid beginning to conference play, as U of L finished below .500 (10-12) in the ACC last season. That being said, Louisville has a long way to go until this season’s end. Picked to finish fifth in ACC preseason polls, the Cards play a total of 17 games against teams that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament. This includes conference opponent and defending national champion Florida State. Here are some observations on the first Underclassmen contributors half of Louisville’s season, including inWith a majority of its 20-player roster sights on how the Cardinals can continue as underclassmen, Louisville needed the playing well and improving. younger side of its team to contribute in Potent pitching, Heavy hitting 2019. Overall, the Cards combine for a .296 So far, they have certainly done that. average at the plate and 1.71 ERA on the Most notable are Chung and Roby, who mound. Both numbers speak to the allhave worked their way into key roles as around talent of this team. first-year players. Megan Hensley exemplifies Louisville’s

Catcher Chung leads the Cardinals with her batting average, .486 on-base percentage, 22 RBIs and three home runs. She’s also currently on a nine-game hitting streak. Roby, hitting well with a .458 on-base percentage, leads the pitching staff with two saves. Also contributing are freshman Charley Butler, with 22 starts and two home runs, and freshman Cassady Greenwood, with 14 appearances and a .313 batting average. Maddy Newman and Kyra Snyder are standout sophomores in the starting lineup. Fellow sophomore Riley Schindler has started 16 games in right field.

With solid fielding and sticking to fundamentals, Louisville has better chances to win. The Cardinals continue conference play with a three-game series at Notre Dame March 22-24.

Avoid those errors

In terms of improvement, Louisville could work on its performance in the field. The Cards total 33 errors across 27 games this season. Errors happen from time to time, but keeping the number low is often crucial for victory. Across Louisville’s eight losses, the team averaged two errors per game. By comparison, Louisville averaged a far better .8 errors per game across its 19 vic- Sophomore Kyra Snyder at bat. tories. These numbers state the obvious:

FILE PHOTO / TLC