Louisville Run-Rules Eastern Kentucky in Neutral Site Midweek Matchup

The Cardinals bounce back after entering their matchup with the Colonels having lost five of their last seven.

Louisville baseball outfielder Lucas Moore | Jared Anderson - Louisville Cardinals On SI

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Making the short drive to Lexington for a neutral site midweek matchup against Eastern Kentucky, the Louisville baseball program was able to get back on the right track, earning a 17-7 seven inning run-rule victory on Tuesday from Legends Field

Considering how they had been trending as of late, the Cardinals (18-11, 4-5 ACC) secure a much needed win from a momentum standpoint. They entered their matchup with the Colonels (8-20, 3-7 ASUN) having lost five of their last seven games.

Third baseman Bayram Hot (3-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2B) and outfielder Ben Slanker (1-1, HR, 4 RBI) each had four-RBI days, with first baseman Tague Davis (2-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB) joining the two in hitting a home run. Catcher Jimmy Nugent (2-3, RBI, 2B) and second baseman Kade Elam (2-5, 2 RBI) joined Davis and Hot in having multi-hit days as well.

Louisville didn't waste any time jumping on the scoreboard, putting up a three-spot in the opening frame. Hot smoked a 431-foot two-run homer to get the scoring started, while Davis smashed a 476-foot solo homer.

This lead didn't last long, as Eastern Kentucky promptly responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the opening frame. Starter Kian Vorster (0.1 IP, 3 BB, 2 H, 4 ER) gave up a game-tying three-run homer, then after the right-hander was replaced with left-hander T.J. Schlagater (2.2 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 1 H), he then allowed a go ahead RBI single.

Schlageter was able to bounce back with a pair of scoreless innings in the second and third, allowing Louisville to respond with seven answered runs. Nugent re-tied the game in the third with an RBI double, then the Cardinals needed just two swings to put up six runs in the fourth: the first being a two-run double from Hot, and the second being a grand slam from Slanker.

The Colonels got a run back in the fourth, collecting an RBI double off of right-hander Jake Gregor (1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER), but then UofL got right back to work with three more unanswered runs. Outfielder Lucas Moore (1-4, RBI, BB) drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the fifth, then an inning later, Elam hit an RBI single while outfielder Kyle Campbell (1-3, RBI, BB) added an RBI groundout.

Southpaw Joe Olson (2.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 3 H, 2 ER) allowed a two-run blast to EKU in the sixth after putting up and zero in the fifth, but that was then followed out by a seventh four-spot from UofL. Crain, Davis and Elam all had RBI singles, while a pinch-hitting Zach Davis (1-1, RBI, 2B) collected an RBI double. Righty Anthony Karbowski (1.0 IP, 1 H) then twirled a scoreless seventh to secure the run rule win.

Next up for Louisville, they'll travel to Duke for a three-game road series this weekend. First pitch of game one is slated for Thursday, Apr. 2 at 8:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on the ACC Network and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

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(Photo of Lucas Moore: Jared Anderson - Louisville Cardinals On SI)