Lucas, Funkhouser Lead Louisville Past BCU

Friday, April 24

JIM PATTERSON STADIUM

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

32-10

BETHUNE-COOKMAN

15-32

Bethune-Cookman

Louisville

April 24, 2015 | Baseball

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April 24, 2015

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CardsTV Postgame Interviews: Dan McDonnell | Kyle Funkhouser | Zach Lucas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior Zach Lucas had a career-high four hits while junior Kyle Funkhouser allowed just one earned run in his second career complete game effort to lead No. 3 Louisville to 10-4 series-opening win against Bethune-Cookman on Friday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Lucas (Louisville, Ky.) finished 4-for-5 overall with three RBI and scored once as the Cardinals (32-10) overcame an early 4-0 deficit by out-hitting the Wildcats 16-8. Prior to Friday, Lucas had accumulated eight three-hit performances in his collegiate career, while the three RBI equaled a season high.

Sophomore Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.) extended his career best hitting streak to 17 games while finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base and sophomore Corey Ray (Chicago, Ill.) hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season for the Cardinals. Sophomore Logan Taylor (Lexington, Ky.) chipped in three hits, a stolen base and scored once as Louisville improved to 20-4 at home this season.

On the mound, Funkhouser finished with nine strikeouts and scattered eight hits while allowing just the single earned run in his first complete game effort since May 7, 2013 at Eastern Kentucky. The hard-throwing righty improved to 24-6 in his collegiate career to move into a tie for second in all-time wins at Louisville equaling Justin Amlung (2010-12). He also moved into sole possession of second place in career strikeouts at Louisville at 252 trailing only Justin Marks, who had 305 from 2007-09.

Bethune-Cookman struck for a pair of runs in the first inning on Friday night with Bryant Munoz scoring the first tally from third as Jordan Robinson escaped a rundown between first and second base following a pick-off attempt. Later in the inning, Robinson scored on the first of three Louisville errors on the evening for the 2-0 advantage.

The Wildcats pushed the cushion to 4-0 in the second inning on RBI singles from Munoz and Robinson after two more errors by the Cardinals extended the inning.

Louisville started its comeback in the third inning when Taylor led off with a single to left, stole second and then scored on a RBI single by Solak. Ray followed by sending a 1-0 offering from BCU starter Keith Zuniga over the right field wall to cap the three-run inning. Ray leads the Cardinals with 42 RBI in 42 games played.

After senior Mike White (East Orange, N.J.) scored on a groundball off the bat of Ryan Summers (Westfield, Mass.) to even the score in the sixth, the Cardinals moved ahead for good with a four-run seventh inning. Lucas pushed Louisville in front with a two-run single through the left side to plate Solak and Ray. After loading the bases later in the inning, the Cardinals plated their third run of the inning when sophomore Will Smith (Louisville, Ky.) was hit by a pitch to score freshman Brendan McKay (Darlington, Pa.). Pinch hitter Blake Tiberi added a RBI sacrifice fly to left to score Lucas for the final run of the inning.

Louisville added its final two runs of the night in the eighth inning on RBI singles by Solak and Lucas. Zuniga took the loss for Bethune-Cookman and dropped to 5-5 on the season after allowing six runs on 12 hits in six innings.

The Cardinals and Wildcats will continue their weekend series with game two on Saturday at 1 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium.

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