Louisville-NKU to Play at Louisville Slugger Field on April 26
January 09, 2017 | Baseball
First pitch for Cardinals and Norse set for 6 p.m., ET; Tickets on sale for $5 through Louisville Bats Ticket Office
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville Cardinals and Northern Kentucky University Norse will play a regular season baseball game at Louisville Slugger Field on April 26, 2017. First pitch for the game, hosted by the Louisville Bats, is scheduled for 6 p.m., ET. Tickets for the game are on sale now.
All individual reserved seat tickets are only $5 each. Fans can purchase tickets at http://bit.ly/uofl-nku or by calling (855) 228-8497
Fans that purchase a full tournament or weekend package for the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship held at Louisville Slugger Field from May 23-28 will receive free admission to the Louisville-NKU regular season game. ACC Championship ticket package information can be found here.
"We are very excited to host the Cardinals and Norse at Louisville Slugger Field," said Louisville Bats Senior Vice President Greg Galiette. "With the ACC Championship being played at Louisville Slugger Field, this allows the Bats and the University of Louisville to begin their partnership towards putting on a great week-long Championship experience in our community."
The April 26 contest against NKU will be UofL's first game at Louisville Slugger Field since earning a 7-5 victory over Kentucky in 2003. The 2017 ACC Championship will not only be the first at Louisville Slugger Field, but it will also be the first to include 12 teams and feature a pool play format leading into a four-team, single-elimination bracket to determine the league champion.
The No. 11 Cardinals are scheduled to open the 2017 season on Feb. 17-19 in Clearwater, Florida with a trio of games at Bright House Field. Louisville will face Alabama State on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m., ET, Maryland on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., and Ball State on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. The 2017 home-opener for the Cardinals is set for Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium against Eastern Kentucky.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FIELD
Louisville Slugger Field, which opened in 2000, boasts a seating capacity of 13,131. Home to the Louisville Bats' minor league team, Triple-A affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds, the stadium played host to the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game and features 32 private suites in addition to second-level club seating.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BASEBALL IN 2017
The Cardinals return a trio of All-Americans and 19 total letterwinners from last year's team, which won its second straight ACC Atlantic Division championship, advanced to its fourth straight NCAA Super Regional and reached the 50-win plateau for the fourth time in school history. Two-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American Brendan McKay returns for his junior season after finishing with a 12-4 record, 2.30 ERA and 128 strikeouts on the mound and a .333 batting average, six home runs, 19 doubles and 41 RBI at the plate last season.
Junior righthander Kade McClure, an All-American selection by the NCBWA and Perfect Game in 2016, is expected to give the Cardinals a 1-2 All-American punch in their weekend rotation after closing his sophomore season with a 12-0 record, 2.54 ERA and 77 strikeouts 13 starts and 15 total appearances. Joining McKay in the Louisville lineup is junior shortstop Devin Hairston, who hit .361 with three home runs, 16 doubles and 45 RBI while earning ABCA Third Team All-America honors last season.
In 10 seasons guiding the Louisville baseball program, head coach Dan McDonnell has placed the Cardinals among the nation's elite programs with three College World Series berths, six NCAA Super Regional appearances, nine NCAA Regional bids, seven regular season conference championships, two conference tournament titles, 29 All-Americans and 456 wins overall.
FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
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