Louisville Blanks Kentucky to Snap Four-Game Losing Streak

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
UL	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	2	1	7	13	0
UK	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

W: Evan Webster (2-2), L: Travis Smith (3-1)

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Traveling behind enemy lines for the road leg of their annual home-and-home series against arch rival Kentucky, the Louisville baseball program was able to take a much needed first step back in the right direction, capturing a 7-0 shutout victory Tuesday at Kentucky Proud Park.

The No. 21 Cardinals (27-13) snap a four-game losing streak with the win over the No. 10 Wildcats (30-10), which had been their longest since dropping eight straight during the 2011 season. Louisville also wins their third straight over Kentucky in the all-time series, their third straight in Lexington, and their first shutout win over the Wildcats since a 12-0 decision on Apr. 10, 2012.

Coming off of a series in which the pitching staff gave up late rallies in all three games against Duke, they were masterful against Kentucky. Evan Webster (2.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 H) set the tone as the starter, then Kade Grundy (2.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 H), Kaleb Corbett (2.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 H), Patrick Forbes (1.0 IP, 1 H), Kayden Campbell (1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB) and Tate Kuehner (1.0 IP, 1 K) each carried that momentum into their respective relief appearances.

Louisville's bats were actually quiet for most of the night. They generated just six baserunners over the first six innings, with their lone run during this time coming via a leadoff solo home by Jack Payton (2-5, HR, 2 RBI) in the second inning.

Then in the late stages, Louisville blew the game wide open, plating six runs over the final three frames. The Cardinals put up a three-spot in the seventh, with Isaac Humphrey (2-3, RBI, BB) and Payton each collecting RBI singles and Logan Beard (3-4, 2B) scoring on a passed ball.

Gavin Kilen (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B) followed that up with a two-RBI single in the eighth, then Tyeler Hawkins (1-1, HR, RBI) hit a pinch-hitting solo homer in the ninth.

Next up for Louisville, they'll return home for a three-game series against Miami. First pitch of game one is slated for Thursday, Apr. 27 at 7:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on the ACC Network and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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