Shorthanded Louisville Stumbles at Indiana

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

W: Ethan Phillips (2-0), L: Evan Webster (1-2)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Heading up I-65 for their annual midweek matchup against regional rival Indiana, a short-handed Louisville baseball program was unable to overcome key injuries in the batting order and an early onslaught by their hosts, falling 7-3 Tuesday at Bart Kaufman Field.

After opening up the season at 16-1 with an 11-game win streak, the No. 10 Cardinals (26-10) are just 10-9 over their last 19 games. They also snap a three-game winning streak over the Hoosiers (26-11).

Jack Payton, Christian Knapczyk and Gavin Kilen - the former two of which were Louisville's two leaders in batting average and total bases heading into the matchup - were all unavailable due to injury, and the offense struggled to generate much because of it. The Cardinals went just 2-of-14 with runners on base, and had just four base runners reach scoring position.

Louisville struck first with a solo home run from Will Vierling (1-2, HR, RBI) in the third, but Indiana responded immediately and with authority. Making the first start of his career, Evan Webster (2.1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 3 ER) tossed a pair of scoreless frames to start his outing, but was chased out in the third after allowing an RBI single.

Kaleb Corbett (0.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER) was the first out of the bullpen, and proceeded to give up three straight RBI base hits to allow the Hoosiers to put up a five-spot in the third. Greg Farone (1.2 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 2 H) came in to get the final out of the frame, then IU would add a run under his watch an inning later thanks to an error.

After that, the bullpen did a solid job of containing Indiana. The Hoosiers did add an RBI single in the sixth with the run getting charged to Kade Grundy (0.2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, ER), but Kayden Campbell (0.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 H), Will Koger (1.0 IP, 1 H), Patrick Forbes (1.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB) and Alex Galvan (1.0 IP) each chipped in scoreless outings of relief in the final half of the game.

However, the comeback attempt by the Cardinals fell well short. The only offense they were able to generate down the stretch was from Ryan McCoy (0-2, BB) reaching home off an error and Isaac Humphrey (1-4) single in the seventh, and an RBI single from Forbes (1-4, RBI) in the eighth.

Next up for Louisville, they'll stay on the road and resume ACC play with a weekend series at Duke. First pitch of game one is slated for Friday, Apr. 21 at 6:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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