Louisville Mounts Comeback, Defeats Florida State in Series Opener

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
FSU	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	4	11	2
UL	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	X	7	8	0

W: Kayden Campbell (2-1), L: Doug Kirkland (3-3), S: Tate Kuehner (5)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kicking off their final three-game series of the regular season, the Louisville baseball program took a much-needed step towards jumping back in the ACC Tournament picture, mounting a comeback to take down Florida State 7-4 in the series opener Thursday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Trailing 4-3 heading into the late innings, Eddie King Jr. (1-4, 2 RBI) and Jack Payton (3-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) delivered in the clutch for Louisville. King hit a game-tying RBI single in the seventh, while Payton launched a two-out, go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth.

The Cardinals (31-22, 10-18 ACC), who are currently on the outside of the ACC Tournament looking in, entered the series with the Seminoles (21-31, 7-21 ACC) needing a sweep to guarantee themselves a spot in Raleigh next week. A 2-1 series win, on top of some help from either NC State or Pitt, would also punch their ticket.

Payton and King combined for five of Louisville's six run driven in, while Payton and Christian Knapczyk (2-3, 2 HBP) logged multi-hit days. The latter also reached base in four of his five plate appearances.

Florida State was quick to strike, hitting a solo home run on just the third pitch of the game. Louisville had a swift counterpunch, plating three runs over the first and second innings to jump in front. In the first inning, Ryan McCoy (0-3, RBI, HBP) was hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and King tallied an RBI fielder's choice, while Payton scored on a wild pitch in the next frame.

The Seminoles then took advantage of some offensive stagnation by the Cardinals in the middle innings. They collected another solo homer off of starting pitcher Ryan Hawks (4.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 9 H, 4 ER) in the third, and eventually chased him out in the fifth after he worked himself into a jam. Kaleb Corbett (2.2 IP, 3 K, 3 BB, 1 H) took over in the frame, but gave up a two-run single to hand FSU the lead.

Fortunately, Corbett was able to rebound from the go-ahead hit by the 'Noles and give the offense a chance to rally. He, as well as Kayden Campbell (1.1 IP, 2 K, 1 H) and Tate Kuehner (1.0 IP) behind him, were able to keep Florida State off the board over the final four frames of the contest.

Next up for Louisville, they'll try and clinch the series against Florida State in game two. First pitch is slated for Friday, Apr. 7 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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