Louisville Rallies to Demolish Bellarmine in Midweek Rematch

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
UL	0	0	1	0	6	7	0	2	2	18	19	4
BU	1	0	0	3	0	0	2	1	0	7	7	2

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - 20 days removed from their beatdown of Bellarmine at Jim Patterson Stadium, the Louisville baseball program overcame an early deficit in the rematch at Louisville Slugger Field, winning 18-7 Tuesday in a midweek matchup.

With just three weeks left in the regular season, the decisive victory hopes to be a much-needed turning point for the Cardinals (29-15). Louisville had dropped eight of their 11 games played since their previous matchup with the Knights (11-34) on Apr. 12.

After trailing 4-1 through the first four innings, Louisville then fired off 13 unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to race past Bellarmine and put them at arm's length. The 18 runs plated for the game are the most by the Cardinals since putting up 22 against Akron on Mar. 5, 2022.

Isaac Humphrey (2-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB) and Ryan McCoy (3-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 BB) led the Louisville offense, each driving in four runs. Christian Knapczyk (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Will Cook (1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB), Gavin Kilen (2-6, 2 RBI, 3B) and Logan Beard (3-4, 2 RBI, 2B) also had multi-RBI days, with eight total Cardinals driving in a run.

Bellarmine struck first in the matchup, collecting an RBI single off of starter Tucker Biven (2.0 IP, 2 K, 4 H, 1 ER) in the opening frame. A couple innings later, Eddie King Jr. (1-4, RBI, SF) delivered the equalizer, collecting a sacrifice fly in the third.

Following a scoreless third inning from Alex Galvan (1.0 IP, 1 K), the Knights took advantage of three Cardinals errors in the fourth inning, scratching across a trio of runs under Ben Wiegman's (1.0 IP, 1 BB) watch.

Louisville responded with a massive counterpunch, putting up a six-spot in the fifth inning to take the lead. Brandon Anderson (2-3, RBI), Knapczyk and Cook all struck RBI singles, with the latter two each driving home a pair of runs, and Humphrey drew a bases loaded walk.

The Cardinals then delivered the knockout blow in the sixth inning, putting up seven runs in the frame. Kilen and Beard each tallied RBI singles, then Humphrey and McCoy launched three- and two-run homer runs, respectively.

From the mound and in the field, Louisville played much cleaner baseball down the stretch. Evan Webster (1.0 IP, 2 K, 1 H), Will Koger (1.0 IP, 1 K) and Cameron Robinson (1.0 IP, 1 K) each posted scoreless frames in their relief outings.

Bellarmine did inflict some damage in the late stages, launching a two-run homer off of Greg Farone (1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 H, 2 ER) in the seventh and collecting an RBI single off of Patrick Forbes (1.0 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 1 H) in the eighth.

Even those runs by the Knights were immediately countered by Louisville. McCoy hit a two-run single in the eighth, then Kilen and Beard collected RBI extra base hits in the ninth, with Kilen hitting a triple and Beard hitting a double.

Next up for Louisville, they'll hit the road for a three-game weekend series at Clemson. First pitch of game one is slated for Friday, May 5 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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