Cardinals Drop Nightcap to Hurricanes

Saturday, March 7

JIM PATTERSON STADIUM

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

9-5, 1-1

No. 10 MIAMI

10-5, 1-1

Miami (FL)

Louisville

March 07, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

March 7, 2015

Senior Sutton Whiting had five hits in Saturday's doubleheader against Miami.

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

CardsTV Game Highlights

CardsTV Postgame Interviews: Dan McDonnell | Sutton Whiting

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 11 Louisville baseball team split Saturday's ACC doubleheader against 10th-ranked Miami after falling 9-5 in the nightcap at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Hurricanes (10-5, 1-1 ACC) used a five-run fourth inning to garner command for good against the Cardinals (9-5, 1-1 ACC) after the home club earned a 9-6 win in the opener. The deciding game in the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m., ET and admission is free. The game will be televised on ESPN3 while live radio coverage will be available on 93.9 The Ville.

Senior infielder Zach Lucas (Louisville, Ky.) led the way for the Cardinals connecting for his second home run of the season while adding a double and three RBI. Freshman Blake Tiberi (Taylor Mill, Ky.) chipped in going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, while freshman infielder Devin Hairston (Lexington, Ky.) added a double and drove in two runs.

On the mound, junior righty Anthony Kidston (Defiance, Ohio) suffered the loss for the Louisville and dropped to 0-2 on the season after allowing six earned runs on nine hits in 4.0+ innings. Enrique Sosa was credited with the win for the Hurricanes allowing three earned runs on four hits in 5.0+ innings in the starting role. Bryan Garcia recorded the final six outs of the game to earn his fourth save of the season for Miami.

The Hurricanes started quickly in Saturday's second game after catcher Zach Collins delivered a RBI double in the first inning to plate outfielder Carl Chester for the 1-0 lead. The visiting side took the game over in the fourth after on a RBI groundout by outfielder Willie Abreu, RBI singles by second baseman Sebastian Diaz and Chester and a two-run double by outfielder Ricky Eusebio for a 6-0 advantage.

The margin increased to 8-0 in the fifth inning for Miami after Brandon Lopez drove in two with a double down the right field line. The Cardinals broke through for their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI grounder off the bat of Hairston.

Louisville made it a game in the sixth inning plating four runs on five hits and one error by the Hurricanes. Lucas delivered the big shot in the frame by sending a 3-2 offering from Sosa over the left field wall to score sophomore outfielder Corey Ray (Chicago, Ill.) and freshman first baseman Brendan McKay (Darlington, Pa.). Later in the inning, Hairston added a RBI double to score Tiberi and pull the Cardinals closer at 8-5. Louisville threatened for more by loading the bases with two outs before ending the inning with a groundout by Ray, who was called out on a very close play at first.

The Cardinals had another great chance at drawing closer in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with one out against reliever Cooper Hammond. However, a 4-6-3 doubleplay off the bat of Hairston ended that opportunity for Louisville. The Hurricanes plated a final insurance run in the ninth inning on a RBI triple by Lopez, who finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI.

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