Home Runs Doom Louisville in Series Opener vs. Wake Forest

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
WF	0	0	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	11	16	1
UL	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	5	6	1

W: Seth Keener (5-0), L: Ryan Hawks (5-2)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hosting Wake Forest for a monumental top-10 series, the Louisville baseball program found themselves at the mercy of the home run ball, dropping the opener of the three-game series 11-5 Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The No. 8 Cardinals (25-8, 7-6 ACC) found out quickly why the No. 2 Demon Deacons (30-4, 13-2 ACC) are nicknamed "Rake Forest," allowing five home runs to their visitors. The five homers drove in all 11 of Wake Forest's runs.

It was the most home runs given up by Louisville in a single game since they allowed six to Clemson on May 1, 2022. The Deacs also hit for the "home run cycle," hitting two solo shots, a two-run homer, three-run homer and a grand slam.

Louisville struck first with an RBI single from Eddie King Jr. (1-3, RBI, BB) in the opening frame, but then Wake Forest unleashed a barrage of home runs to take commanding control of the game.

Ryan Hawks (3.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 8 H, 5 ER) put up a pair of scoreless innings for the Cardinals to begin his pitching start, but then allowed back-to-back-to-back homers in the third inning, with the first homer plating three runs. Heading into the matchup, Hawks had allowed only two home runs in his eight starts this season.

As if the third inning five-spot wasn't bad enough, the Demon Deacons added four more runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Reliever Tucker Biven (2.0 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, 6 H, 2 ER) took the ball from Hawks after his short start, then promptly allowed a grand slam and a two-run blast.

Kade Grundy (3.0 IP, 1 H) and Ben Wiegman (1,0 IP) gave Louisville some stability on the mound, but the Cardinals were unable to comeback from their massive deficit, only able to score four more runs in the contest.

Gavin Kilen (0-3, RBI) collected an RBI off a fielder's choice in the fourth, while a balk later in the frame would bring home Isaac Humphrey (1-4). Jack Payton (1-3, RBI) also collected an RBI single in the fifth, and King scored on a throwing error in the eighth. Christian Knapczyk (2-5), Payton and King were the only batters to reach base multiple times.

Next up for Louisville, they'll try and even their series against Wake Forest in game two. First pitch is slated for Saturday, Apr. 15 at 1:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

(Photo of Jack Payton: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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