Slow Start Dooms Cardinals in Loss to Clemson

Thursday, May 21

Durham, N.C.

5:00 PM

University of Louisville

43-15

Clemson

32-26

Louisville

Clemson

May 21, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

May 21, 2015

Box Score

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DURHAM, N.C. - Facing an early deficit for the second straight ACC Championship outing on Thursday, third-ranked Louisville could not duplicate its Wednesday night comeback suffering a 7-2 loss to Clemson at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

After battling back from a 4-0 hole in the 7-4 victory against North Carolina a day earlier, the Cardinals (43-15) found themselves down 5-1 through two innings on Thursday and never recovered to even their Pool A record to 1-1. Louisville will have a day off on Friday before closing pool play against Florida State on Saturday at 11 a.m., ET.

Sophomore Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.) led the way on a tough day for the Cardinals going 3-for-4 with a double, while freshman Ryan Summers (Westfield, Mass.) was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Thursday marked the sixth time in the last seven games the opponent has scored first against Louisville.

Clemson (32-26, 1-1 Pool A) wasted little time on Thursday plating a trio of runs in the first inning against Louisville junior righty Kyle Funkhouser (Oak Forest, Ill.). Reed Rohlman started the scoring for the Tigers with a two-run single to center and Robert Jolly added a RBI single later for the 3-0 cushion.

The Cardinals answered with a run in the second on a two-out RBI double from Summers to score sophomore Will Smith (Louisville, Ky.). Louisville had a chance for more with two in scoring position and two outs but Clemson lefty Zack Erwin struck out freshman Devin Hairston (Lexington, Ky.) to halt the threat.

After holding the Cardinals to only the one run in the top of the frame, the Tigers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Steven Duggar started the scoring with a RBI sacrifice fly to center before Tyler Krieger added a RBI single later in the inning for the 5-1 lead.

Clemson extended the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run double from Weston Wilson for the 7-1 cushion. The Cardinals plated the final run of the night in the ninth inning when sophomore Logan Taylor (Lexington, Ky.), pinch running after a leadoff single by freshman Colby Fitch (Rocheport, Mo.), scored from second after a throwing error by Clemson shortstop Eli White.

Erwin earned the win for the Tigers and moved to 7-4 on the season after allowing just one run on six hits with 11 strikeouts in eight strong innings. Funkhouser suffered the loss for Louisville and dropped to 7-5 overall after allowing five earned runs on nine hits in five innings.

The Cardinals' Pool A finale against the Seminoles on Saturday will be televised through the ACC's Regional Sports Network as well as aired on 93.9 The Ville in Louisville.

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