Louisville Avoids Sweep, Takes Series Finale vs. Wake Forest

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

W: Carson Liggett (8-0), L: Josh Hartle (6-1)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Capping off an eight-game home stand as well as their top-ten series with Wake Forest, the Louisville baseball program was able to end the series on a positive note, taking the series finale 7-2 Sunday at Jim Patterson Stadium to avoid getting swept.

Dropping the first two games of their three-game series against the No. 2 Demon Deacons (31-5, 14-3 ACC), the No. 8 Cardinals (26-9, 8-7 ACC) narrowly avoid suffering their first sweep at home in ACC play since the end of the 2021 regular season against Miami. All three of Louisville's series losses in ACC play this season have involved taking the finale to stave off a sweep.

While Louisville starting pitcher Carson Liggett (5.2 IP, 2 K, 5 BB, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 HBP) didn't have his best stuff, allowing a career-high 11 baserunners while posting a season-low in strikeouts, he gave up minimal damage to Wake Forest. He only allowed an RBI single in the fourth and solo home run in the sixth, and posted the longest outing by a Louisville starter all weekend.

For a while, it seemed like Louisville had no answer at the plate for Wake Forest starting pitcher Josh Hartle. The Cardinals didn't generate their first base runner until the fourth inning, and had just two hits through the first five innings.

Then the bats came alive in the sixth inning, plating five runs in the frame to take the lead. J.T Benson (3-4, HR, 3 RBI) put Louisville in front thanks to a towering 413-foot, three-run home run to left-center field, then Eddie King Jr. (0-3, 2 RBI, HBP) and Logan Beard (0-3, RBI, HBP) drew back-to-back bases loaded hit-by-pitches.

The Cardinals added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, coming courtesy of an RBI single from Will Cook (1-3, RBI, BB) and an RBI fielder's choice from King. Over on the mound, Tate Kuehner (3.1 IP, 5 K, 3 H) pitched his longest relief outing since going 4.0 innings deep against Notre Dame on Mar. 26, and set a season-high in strikeouts, keeping the Demon Deacons off the scoreboard during his time on the mound to help secure the win.

Next up for Louisville, they'll head back on the road for a midweek matchup at Indiana. First pitch is slated for Tuesday, Apr. 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ESPNU and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

(Photo of Brandon Anderson: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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