7th Inning Stretch: Continuing the Homestand (Week 2)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2023 campaign for the Louisville baseball program could not have started on a better note.

Hosting Bucknell at Jim Patterson Stadium for their season-opening series, the Cardinals were able to secure a sweep over the visiting Bisons in somewhat decisive fashion. While game three was only won by two runs, Louisville took games one and two by a combined score of 18-3.

Louisville had a solid offensive showcase to open up their season, batting .312 against Bucknell with four home runs, 18 walks and seven total extra base hits. Pitching got a little hairy in the series finale, but the Cardinals did wind up allowing only six earned runs all weekend, while striking out 39 in the process.

Given that head coach Dan McDonnell gave in-game reps to several players and didn't just ride the starters all weekend long, it's a pretty good showing. He's expected to do the same over the next couple weeks, and Louisville will be in a much better spot long-term because of it.

Last Week's Recaps:

News & Notes

Out of the six major collegiate baseball polls, Louisville ranks as high as the No. 4 team in the nation, courtesy of Baseball America.
RHP Greg Farone is tied for No. 1 in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (24.0)
Catcher Jack Payton ranks No. 33 in the nation in hit by pitches with 11.
Outfielder Eddie King Jr. ranks 33rd in on-base percentage at .700.

The Week Ahead

Home (Louisville, Ky.)

Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 3:00 p.m. vs. Xavier

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Friday, Feb. 24 at 3:00pm vs. Bowling Green

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Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1:00pm vs. Bowling Green

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Sunday, Feb 26 at 1:00pm vs. Bowling Green

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Know The Foe

Midweek

School: Xavier University
Nickname: Musketeers
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Total Enrollment: 6,651
Head Coach (school record): Billy O'Conner (113-133)
2023 Record (conference record): 0-4 (0-0)
All-Time Series Record: Louisville leads 41-21

Top Performers (Hitters):

OF Andrew Walker (4 GP, 4 GS): .333/.412/.467, 2 2B, 2 BB
OF/LHP Carter Hendrickson (4 GP, 4 GS): .167/.333/.500, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 2 BB
SS Jack Housinger (4 GP, 4 GS): .214/.313/.429, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB

Top Performers (Pitchers)

RHP Nick Boyle (1 APP, 1 GS): 0.00 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, .077 B/AVG
RHP Ethan Bosacker (1 APP, 1 GS): 1.29 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, .095 B/AVG
LHP Justin Loer (1 APP, 1 GS): 4.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, .143 B/AVG

Weekend

School: Bowling Green State University
Nickname: Falcons
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Total Enrollment: 13,645
Head Coach (school record): Kyle Hallock (39-66)
2023 Record (conference record): 1-2 (0-0)
All-Time Series Record: First Meeting

Top Performers (Hitters):

UTIL Leighton Banjoff (3 GP, 3 GS): .385/.429/.538, 1 RBI, 2 2B, 1 SB
INF Nathan Rose (3 GP, 3 GS): .333/.571/.556, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 5 BB
C Kyle Gurney (3 GP, 3 GS): .250/.357/.417, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB

Top Performers (Pitchers)

RHP Gage Schenk (1 APP, 1 GS): 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 5.2 IP, 4 K, 0 BB, .200 B/AVG
RHP Tyler Hays (1 APP, 1 GS): 3.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 5 K, 4 BB, .250 B/AVG
LHP Rigo Ramos (1 APP, 1 GS): 3.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, .111 B/AVG

Statistical Breakdown

Rankings:

Xavier	Bowling Green	Louisville
Highest Poll Ranking	NR	NR	4th
RPI	237th	168th	47th
SOS	49th	49th	49th
Home Record	0-0	0-0	3-0
Away Record	0-4	1-2	0-0
Neutral Record	0-0	0-0	0-0

Hitting:

Xavier	Bowling Green	Louisville
Base on Balls	63rd (18)	82nd (17)	63rd (18)
Batting Average	250th (.184)	208th (.220)	59th (.312)
Hits	190th (23)	209th (22)	109th (29)
Home Runs	96th (3)	N/A	59th (4)
On Base Percentage	245th (.297)	153rd (.355)	30th (.462)
Runs	248th (8)	128th (19)	92nd (23)
Slugging Percentage	230th (.296)	218th (.310)	70th (.484)

Pitching:

Xavier	Bowling Green	Louisville
Earned Run Average	157th (5.34)	124th (4.68)	24th (2.00)
Hits Allowed/9 Innings	68th (7.12)	115th (8.28)	29th (6.00)
Strikeouts Per 9 Innings	229th (7.1)	138th (9.0)	16th (13.0)
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio	120th (2.18)	198th (1.47)	95th (2.44)
WHIP	48th (1.15)	161st (1.60)	69th (1.26)
Walks Allowed/9 Innings	60th (3.26)	203rd (6.12)	159th (5.33)

(Photo of Carson Liggett: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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