Louisville Spilts Series-Opening Doubleheader with St. Bonaventure
Game One
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SBU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
UL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
W: Chance Moore (1-0), L: Jared Lessman (0-1)
Game Two
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SBU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
UL | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 | X | 21 |
W: Parker Detmers (1-0), L: Kade Walker (1-1), S: Mitchell Dean (1)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kicking off their first home weekend series of the 2024 season, the Louisville baseball program got their four-game set against St. Bonaventure off to an up-and-down start, splitting a seven-inning doubleheader on Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
The Cardinals (1-4) dropped the first leg of the doubleheader with a 4-3 extra innings loss, suffering their first 0-4 start to a season since Lelo Prado's final year as the head coach in 2006. However, they were able to follow that up with a resounding 21-3 victory over the Bonnies (2-3) to secure their first win of the season.
Louisville was quick to strike in the doubleheader, putting up a three-spot in the opening frame of game one. Brandon Anderson (0-4, RBI) got the scoring started with an RBI groundout, Isaac Humphrey (1-3, RBI, 2B) followed that up with an RBI double, then Gavin Kilen (1-3, RBI, 3B) collected an RBI triple.
Like in their season-opener last week, Louisville got another strong start on the mound from Sebastian Gongora (6.0 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 4 H, 3 BB) in game one. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and tossed clean innings in three of his first four frames of work.
But in the last two innings of his start, Gongora's command fell off a touch. Four of the six batters that reached base under his watch came during this stretch, including an RBI double in the fifth and a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth. Kayden Campbell (1.0 IP, 1 K) then came in and pitched a scoreless seventh.
However, Louisville and St. Bonaventure would go to "extra" innings mainly due to a Cardinals offense that fell cold after their hot start. After generating three hits and four baserunners in the opening frame, UofL could only muster four hits and six baserunners in the rest of regulation. St. Bonaventure starting pitcher Chance Moore wound up pitching a complete game, with Matt Klein (3-4, 3B) being the only Card to reach base multiple times.
Jared Lessman (0.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 H, 1 ER) was inserted to start the eighth, but was pulled after allowing all three batters he faced to reach base, including a go-ahead RBI double. Kade Grundy (1.0 IP, 1 K) was able to pitch Louisville out of the jam without allowing anymore damage, but their bats were unable to scratch across a run in the bottom of the frame to secure the loss.
For game two, head coach Dan McDonnell made the decision to pull all four returning seniors from the lineup, and inserted seven first- and second-year players - including three true freshman. The move paid immediate dividends, as Louisville plated their most runs (21) since scoring 22 against Akron on Mar 5, 2022.
By the end of the contest, every starter drove in a run, eight drove in multiple, and seven logged multi-hit days. Michael Lippe (2-5, 3 RBI) and Gavin Kilen (2-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B, BB), each had three RBIs, while Luke Napleton (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, HBP) reached base five times.
Like the first leg of the doubleheader, Louisville got off to a hot start, plating six runs in the opening frame. Lippe and Alex Alicea (2-5, 2 RBI) collected RBI singles, Kilen notched a fielder's choice RBI, and Matt Klein (1-1, 2 RBI, 2 BB) struck a two-run RBI single while also scoring on a wild pitch.
The Cardinals' used this hot first inning to set the tone for the rest of the game. Korbyn Dickerson (2-3, 2 RBI, BB) had a sac fly and Alicea struck another RBI single in the second, then Napleton blasted a 411-foot solo home run in the third for UofL's first homer of the season.
Sticking with the youth movement, Parker Detmers (4.0 IP, 3 K, 2 BB, 4 H, 2 ER) - the younger brother of former Louisville All-American Reid Detmers - got the start on the mound for game two. The true freshman put together a solid outing in his collegiate debut, pitching three scoreless innings before eventually surrendering an RBI double in the fourth.
After St. Bonaventure broke the shutout, Louisville responded with authority, plating nine runs in the bottom of the fourth. It was their most runs in an inning since also scoring nine in the fifth against Dayton on Mar. 10, 2023.
Dickerson, Zion Rose (2-5, RBI, BB) Lucas Moore (1-2, 2 RBI, BB) and Brandon Anderson (2-3, 2 RBI, BB) each had RBI singles with the latter two driving in a pair and Dickerson also scoring on a fielding error, Kilen logged an RBI double and Lippe collected a groundout RBI.
Despite the near-insurmountable lead, Louisville didn't take their foot off the gas in the late stages. Lippe notched an RBI single and Kilen collected an RBI groundout in the fifth, then Napleton added an RBI double in the sixth
As strong as the hitting was in game two, Louisville also got an efficient performance from their bullpen. In what was his collegiate debut, Mitchell Dean (3.0 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 H, 1 ER) earned a three-inning save, only surrendering a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Next up for Louisville, they'll continue their weekend series against St. Bonaventure with game three. First pitch is slated for Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.
(Photo of Jared Lessman: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)
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