Louisville Walks Off Lipscomb in Extras to Sweep Series
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LU | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
W: Kaleb Corbett (1-0), L: Adam Switalski (0-2)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Playing in the second half of a two-game midweek series with Lipscomb, the Louisville baseball program was able to mount another late comeback, claiming an 8-7 extra innings walk-off win on Wednesday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Trailing 7-4 through seven innings, Louisville was able to score three unanswered runs in the late innings to force extras. In the bottom of the tenth, J.T. Benson (1-1, RBI) came in to pinch hit with two runners on and two outs, then proceeded to hit a game-winning single to right center.
The Cardinals (12-6) pull off the series sweep with the Bisons (3-13) after claiming a 12-7 decision against in the opener on Tuesday. Since opening the season at 0-4, Louisville has won 12 of their last 14 games, including a 10-game win streak.
Like the day before in the series opener, Louisville struggled mightily with pitching and defense right out of the gates, giving up five unanswered runs to start the game. Carson Liggett's (1.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 4 H, 2 ER) rough start to the season carried onward against Lipscomb, giving up RBI singles and doubles in the first inning, then was pulled in the second after the first two batters reached base.
Ty Starke (1.0 IP, 1 H) tried to stop the bleeding, but the Bisons only continued to open the flood gates and take advantage of Louisville miscues. After an HBP loaded the bases, a second fielding error in the frame scratched across a run for Lipscomb, a second HBP brought home another, then a sacrifice fly capped off the second inning three-spot.
The Cardinals finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, with Dylan Hoy (3-5, RBI, 2B) collecting an RBI single. Justin West (3.0 IP, 3 K, 3 H, 1 ER) was able to give the Cardinals some stability on the mound with scoreless third and fourth innings, but Lipscomb was able to catch up to him as well with an RBI single in the fifth.
Louisville started to mount a comeback effort in the middle innings. Hoy scored on a throwing error in the fifth innings, then Logan Beard (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB) blasted a 409-foot, two-run home run to the left field berm.
Lipscomb got a run back in the seventh off of Dan Snyder (2.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 H, 1 ER) courtesy of a solo home run, but then Ryan McCoy (3-4, HR, 2 RBI) went yard himself in the eighth, smashing a 436-foot, two-run homer to dead center and get the Cardinals back within a run.
Jared Lessman (1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 H) and Kaleb Corbett (0.2 IP) combined to pitch a scoreless ninth, then in the bottom of the frame and facing two outs with a pinch runner on third, Eddie King Jr. (2-4, RBI, BB) hit a single to tie the game and force extras. Corbett then went on to pitch a scoreless tenth to set up the walk-off win.
Next up for Louisville, they'll kick off conference play and host a three-game weekend series against Virginia Tech. First pitch of game one is slated for Friday, Mar. 17 at 6:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.
(Photo of Ty Starke: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)
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