Cards Open Boston College Series with Walk-Off Win

Saturday, March 14

JIM PATTERSON STADIUM

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

12-6, 3-1

BOSTON COLLEGE

5-10, 0-4

Boston College

Louisville

March 14, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

March 14, 2015

Sutton Whiting was 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Saturday's series-opening win.

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By Corey Goodlett
GoCards.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 8 University of Louisville baseball team won a 5-4 decision over visiting Boston College on Saturday afternoon, opening a weekend series at Jim Patterson Stadium against an Atlantic Coast Conference foe.

The Cardinals (12-6, 3-1 ACC) win over the Eagles (5-10, 0-4 ACC) came in walk-off fashion and took an extra inning to secure. Struggling to generate offense in the final two innings, the Cardinals put together a two-out rally that was capped by second baseman Devin Hairston's walk-off RBI single that scored pinch runner Mike White (East Orange, N.J.).

The decisive rally started with one-out walk by BC lefty Jesse Adams to freshman designated hitter Brendan McKay (Darlington, Pa.), who was replaced by White. One hitter later, junior first baseman Danny Rosenbaum (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) extended the inning with a two-out single to move White to second, who scored moments later on the game-winning single to right by Hairston (Lexington, Ky.).

On the mound, sophomore righty Zack Burdi (Downers Grove, Ill.) worked 1.2 innings of shutout relief, highlighted by recording a pair of outs with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a tie game, to earn the victory in his first outing of the season. Adams took the loss for the Eagles after allowing a run on two hits in 0.2 innings of relief.

The Cardinals got on the board first on the afternoon, scoring one run in the first inning to begin the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. After the Louisville defense put together a one-two-three inning in the top of the first, lead-off hitter Sutton Whiting (New Wilmington, Pa.) tripled on the 10th pitch of the Cardinals' first at-bat against BC starter Jeff Burke. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, right fielder Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.) sent Whiting home with an RBI grounder to provide the Cardinals with a 1-0 lead.

Louisville added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to push its lead to 3-0. With two outs, Solak, who reached first base on a walk and then stole second base, scored the team's second run when senior Zach Lucas (Louisville, Ky.) ripped an RBI double and reached third on a BC error. Lucas was brought home by McKay, who popped an RBI single to score the second Louisville run of the inning.

Boston College battled back with a two-run sixth inning. With no outs in the inning, Eagles shortstop Johnny Adams blasted an RBI triple to right centerfield that scored catcher Nick Sciortino. Third baseman Jake Palomaki's RBI single scored Adams on the following at-bat to make cut the Louisville lead to 3-2.

Louisville outfielder Ryan Summers (Westfield, Mass.) hit his first career homerun in the bottom of the sixth to help the Cardinals cruise through the seventh and eighth innings with a 4-2 lead. However, Boston College rallied in the ninth as Eagles first baseman Joe Cronin singled up the middle to bring home centerfielder Michael Strem. The Eagles then loaded the bases with one out and scored the tying run on walk to even the score at 4-4 before Burdi entered from the bullpen to end the rally.

At the plate, Whiting was 3-for-4 with a triple and run scored, while McKay and Rosenbaum added two hits each in the win. Louisville junior righthander Kyle Funkhouser (Oak Forest, Ill.) pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs for the no-decision.

The Cardinals will play the second game of the doubleheader against the Eagles Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. The two teams will return to the ballpark Sunday at 1 p.m., to wrap the series.

Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.