Cardinals Drop Opener to Arkansas State, 8-2

Friday, February 20

Emerson, Ga.

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

2-2

Arkansas State

3-1

Arkansas State

Louisville

February 20, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 20, 2015

Sophomore Nick Solak had two hits and one RBI in Friday's loss to the Red Wolves.

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

EMERSON, Ga. - A difficult third inning proved to be the difference for the seventh-ranked Louisville baseball team in an 8-2 series-opening loss to Arkansas State on Friday afternoon at Perfect Game Park South at the LakePoint Sporting Community.

The Red Wolves (3-1) scored six runs in the decisive third inning, including three unearned on a pair of errors by the Cardinals (2-2) to gain command for good in the first game of a series that was added to the schedule earlier in the week after inclement weather forced weekend cancellations. Louisville and ASU will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m., ET.

Along with the third inning struggles on Friday, the Cardinals also left 13 runners on base while ending three innings (second, fifth and sixth) with the bases loaded. Louisville was just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the loss.

"Today was bad baseball for us, especially that third inning, which was the epitome of bad baseball," said Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell. "Then, we had to play catch up and we've been playing catch up for the last 18 innings. Offensively, we did some good things but we were probably one hit away in several of those innings and if we can one of those, then maybe we have a good comeback in us. We needed some two-out hits to capitalize on the chances we had and we didn't get those."

The Red Wolves struck first on a cold afternoon in the Peach State when third baseman Tanner Ring delivered a RBI single to right to score Austin Baker for the 1-0 lead in the first inning against Louisville junior righty Kyle Funkhouser (Oak Forest, Ill.). Two innings later, ASU capitalized on the two defensive miscues by the Cardinals and scored six runs on three hits, two HBPs and one walk.

The third inning included a two-run single by second baseman Joe Schrimpf, an RBI single by outfielder Ty White and a two-run single by Baker, while the final run was plated on a throwing error by the Cardinals. Overall, four of the seven runs were earned and charged to Funkhouser, who had seven strikeouts, allowed seven hits and issued three walks in his 4.2 innings to drop to 1-1 on the season.

Facing the seven-run deficit, Louisville scored a run in the fifth inning against ASU starter David Owen on a RBI single to center by senior shortstop Sutton Whiting (New Wilmington, Pa.) and another run in the sixth inning on a bases loaded RBI walk to sophomore second baseman Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.). The Red Wolves plated the final run of the day in the eighth inning on a RBI sacrifice fly by catcher Steve Levy.

Whiting and Solak finished with two hits each for the Cardinals, while junior first baseman Danny Rosenbaum (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored. On the mound, a pair of Louisville freshmen made their collegiate debuts as lefty Butch Baird (Big Prairie, Ohio) allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief and righty Sean Leland (Orland Park, Ill.) had one strikeout 1.2 innings of shutout relief.

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