Louisville Rallies to Win ACC Opener, 7-4

Wednesday, May 20

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

University of Louisville

43-14

North Carolina

33-23

North Carolina

Louisville

May 21, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

May 20, 2015

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Notes & Quotes (PDF) | ACC Championship Photo Gallery
Championship Page | Bracket | Pool Standings

DURHAM, N.C. - Led by freshmen Lincoln Henzman and Brendan McKay, third-ranked Louisville overcame a four-run deficit in its ACC Championship debut to earn a 7-4 win against North Carolina on Wednesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Trailing 4-0 by the middle of the third inning, McKay (Darlington, Pa.) started the comeback for the Cardinals (43-14) connecting for a two-run homer in the fourth inning, his third home run of the season. Named the 2015 ACC Freshman of the Year earlier this week, McKay finished the night 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

On the mound, Henzman (Lexington, Ky.) took command of the game with Louisville facing an early deficit and delivered a career-best 6.0 shutout innings of relief with a career-high six strikeouts to earn the win and move to 5-1 on the season. Henzman has not allowed an earned run in a relief appearance since March 14 against Boston College, a span of 14 outings and 23 innings.

Sophomore righty Zack Burdi (Downers Grove, Ill.) followed Henzman with a perfect ninth inning striking out two in a 13-pitch performance to lock down his ninth save of the season. Along with McKay's work at the plate, senior Sutton Whiting (New Wilmington, Pa.) was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI, while sophomore Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.) chipped in with one RBI and a run scored.

The Tar Heels struck early on Wednesday night when Tyler Ramirez led off the game by belting a 2-2 pitch from Louisville freshman righty Sean Leland (Orland Park, Ill.) for his 10th home run of the season. The home run was originally ruled to be in play down the right field line, but was correctly overturned following a video review by the umpires.

North Carolina added to the lead in the third inning scoring a trio of runs against Leland. After earning a four-pitch leadoff walk, Skye Bolt scored the first run of the inning on a RBI double to right field by Korey Dunbar. Logan Warmoth followed with a bunt single to move Dunbar to third before a wild pitch sent him home for the three-run lead. Later in the inning, Warmoth scored from third on a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Brian Miller.

The Cardinals broke through for their first runs of the night in the fourth when McKay launched his two-run shot off UNC starter Benton Moss. After Solak was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, McKay sent a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall to cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

Louisville pulled closer in the fifth inning after Whiting drove in freshman Devin Hairston (Lexington, Ky.) with a two-out, RBI double. Hairston reached base on a fielder's choice before scoring from first when Whiting sent a 2-2 offering into right center for his 12th double of the season.

The Cardinals made their final, decisive move in the game with a four-run sixth inning. After leading off the frame with a double to left center and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Zach Lucas (Louisville, Ky.), McKay scored the tying run on a fielding error by Warmoth, who mishandled a groundball off the bat of freshman Blake Tiberi (Taylor Mill, Ky.).

Later in the inning, Whiting pushed Louisville ahead for good with a two-out, two-run single through the right side to plate pinch runner Colin Lyman (Algonquin, Ill.) and sophomore Will Smith (Louisville, Ky.). Solak followed Whiting with a RBI single through the left side of the infield to plate Hairston for the final run of the game.

Making his fourth start of the season, Leland finished with a no-decision after allowing four runs on four hits in 2.0+ innings. Moss was charged with his first loss of the season and dropped to 7-1 overall after allowing five runs, including three earned, on five hits with seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Louisville continues Pool A action at the 2015 ACC Championship on Thursday at 3 p.m., ET against No. 28 Clemson. The game will be televised through the ACC's Regional Sports Network and will be aired on 93.9 The Ville.

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