Wednesday, March 15
LOUISVILLE, KY
1:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
XAVIER
Josh Stowers has hit safely in six of his last seven games for the Cardinals.
Xavier Visits No. 1 Cardinals on Wednesday Afternoon
March 14, 2017 | Baseball
First pitch set for 1 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium and admission is free
| GAME DAY INFORMATION #1 Louisville vs. Xavier Location: Louisville, Ky. Venue: Jim Patterson Stadium (4,000) Twitter Updates: @UofLBaseball Game Notes: Louisville | Xavier | Media Center Wednesday, March 15 | 1:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: 1450 AM/96.1 FM LOU: Fr. RHP Michael McAvene (1-0, 2.31 ERA) XU: Sr. LHP Trent Astle (1-0, 5.93 ERA) |
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
The Cardinals moved to 15-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference after opening league play with a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh last weekend at Patterson Stadium. Louisville is off to its best start since the 1957 team, under the guidance of head coach Dr. John Heldman Jr., registered a perfect 17-0 record. After entering 2017 ranked in the top 12 in all six major preseason polls, the Cardinals moved to No. 1 in the nation for the first time school history on Monday landing in the top position four national polls -- Baseball America Top 25, NCBWA Top 30, Perfect Game Top 25 and USA Today Sports coaches poll.
Louisville is paced by junior Brendan McKay, the two-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year. McKay leads the nation in batting average at .548 to go along with four home runs, 16 RBI, .905 slugging percentage and .621 on-base percentage. The reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week has also has a 3-0 record with a 0.50 ERA and 29 strikeouts in three Friday starts on the mound. McKay has a 24-7 career record with a 1.93 ERA and 274 strikeouts as a pitcher to go with a .341 career batting average in 132 starts as a hitter.
As a team, the Cardinals rank second in the nation in ERA (1.75), third in batting average (.344), fourth in on-base percentage (.437), fifth in scoring (9.3 runs per game), eighth in slugging (.527) and ninth in fielding percentage (.984). Louisville is also second in the country with five shutouts and second in hits allowed per 9 IP (5.44).
ABOUT THE XAVIER MUSKETEERS
Xavier enters the week at 7-9 overall after dropping two of three games at Southern Mississippi last weekend. After a 2-0 win in Friday's opener in Hattiesburg, the Musketeers were shutout (2-0, 10-0) in each of the final two games. Last season, Xavier was 32-30 overall and won the Big East with a 14-4 record. The Musketeers advanced to the final round of the NCAA Nashville Regional before ending their season against UC Santa Barbara.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville holds a 36-20 advantage in the all-time series with Xavier, which began in 1926. The Cardinals have won eight of the last nine against the Musketeers, including three straight. Wednesday's game will mark the fifth straight season the two programs have met in the regular season.
FEELING AT HOME INSIDE JIM PATTERSON STADIUM
Since opening the gates at Jim Patterson Stadium in 2005, the Cardinals have won more than 77 percent of their games in the ballpark posting a 325-93 record (.777 winning percentage), including an impressive 36-3 mark during the 2016 season at the corner of Third and Central.
TEAM NOTES AND TRENDS
• Louisville has won 31 straight regular season home games at Jim Patterson Stadium with the most recent regular season loss coming to No. 9 Virginia on March 25, 2016.
• The Cardinals have won 17 consecutive midweek games, including a 14-0 mark last season, while their last midweek loss was to No. 7 Vanderbilt on May 12, 2015 at Jim Patterson Stadium.
• UofL has also won 29 straight regular season weekend series at home dating back to 2013.
• A season after setting school record for highest fielding percentage (.978), UofL has opened 2017 by committing just nine errors in 15 games for a .984 fielding percentage.
• Louisville has scored 10 or more runs in seven of 15 games this season and has connected for 10 or more hits in 13 of 15 games overall.
• The Cardinals have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of 15 games this season after accomplishing the feat in 36 of 64 games last season. They allowed two or fewer earned runs in 36 of 65 games in 2015, 40 of 67 games in 2014 and 36 of 65 games in 2013.
• In the three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh, Louisville's trio of starting pitchers – Brendan McKay, Kade McClure and Nick Bennett – did not allow a run while combining for 25 strikeouts and just eight singles in 19.0 innings.
• The UofL bullpen has a 1.52 ERA and 7-0 record with 70 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .160 overall.
• Louisville is 28-of-32 on stolen base attempts this season (23rd in NCAA) after finishing 101-of-126 in 2016 (12th nationally). The Cardinals were fourth nationally with 127 stolen bases in 2015, second in the nation in 2014 with 133 and second in 2013 with 150.
• The Cardinals ended last season ranked second in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings, third in hits, third in sacrifice flies, third in shutouts, fifth in ERA, sixth in batting average, sixth in doubles, sixth in slugging percentage, sixth in WHIP, ninth in runs scored, 12th in stolen bases, 15th in fielding percentage, 15th in on-base percentage, 15th in strikeouts per nine innings, 19th in home runs, 20th in scoring, 21st in strikeout-to-walk ratio, 25th in hit by pitch and 26th in triples.
• While at the helm in Louisville, McDonnell has guided the Cardinals to three College World Series berths, six NCAA Super Regional appearances, nine NCAA Regional bids, seven regular season conference championships, two conference tournament titles and 29 All-Americans.
PLAYER NOTES AND TRENDS
• Brendan McKay: Recorded career-high 15 strikeouts in March 10 win over Pittsburgh and has finished with eight or more strikeouts 20 times in collegiate career.
• In 19 pitching starts at Jim Patterson Stadium, McKay is 17-1 with a 1.48 ERA (21 earned runs in 127.0 IP) and 157 strikeouts.
• In 24 career appearances on the mound at home (including 19 starts), McKay is 18-1 with four saves, a 1.42 ERA (21 earned runs in 133.0 IP) and 164 strikeouts.
• Has reached base in 13 of 14 games played in 2017 while delivering 10 multi-hit outings.
• Leads nation in batting average; team leader in home runs, slugging and on-base .
• Kade McClure: Has 15-1 career record... Has allowed just one run in last 18 innings... Won 12 of 13 starts last season and was tied for fifth nationally in victories... Was also in the top 10 in the nation in WHIP and hits allowed per 9 IP while earning All-America honors last season.
• Nick Bennett: Back-to-back wins without surrendering a run... Allowed only one hit and registered seven strikeouts while facing the minimum of 18 batters for his first career victory in first ever start against Eastern Michigan on March 3.
• Logan Taylor: 5-for-10 with four walks, one HBP, six stolen bases and seven runs scored as in first inning this season (all as leadoff hitter)... Leads team with 13 walks... Has reached base safely in all 15 games this season... Played in 189 career games with 93 starts.
• Colby Fitch: Named to 2017 Johnny Bench Award Watch List... 2nd on team with eight multi-hit games this season... Has started 12 of 15 games at catcher, while other three starts are at designated hitter... Hit four of five home runs, 22 of 25 RBI in his 27 starts last season.
• Devin Mann: Has reached base safely in 14 of 15 games this season with five two-hit games in last seven outings... Hit .307 with eight doubles, 16 RBI and 13 runs in 19 starts last season.
• Drew Ellis: Has reached base safely in 14 of 15 games... Leads team with seven doubles and four home runs... Hit first career grand slam on March 1 against Morehead State... Had 30 starts last season in left field, one at third and one at second base.
• Colin Lyman: Connected for first career home run and career-best three hits on March 1 against Morehead State... Had 47 starts and 60 games played last season.
• Devin Hairston: Had career-best five RBI in three-hit performance against Fort Wayne on March 8... Matched career-high with four hits in Feb. 22 win over EKU... Started all 64 games at shortstop last season earning All-America and All-ACC honors.
• Josh Stowers: Hit safely in six of last seven games... Had two-hit outing and one RBI in first career start on Feb. 18 against No. 22 Maryland.
• Michael McAvene: Registered 11 strikeouts in first collegiate win on Feb. 26... Became Louisville's first true freshman pitcher to earn opening weekend start since 2007 when Tyler Mathis and Justin Marks started second and third days of the season.
MCKAY SELECTED ACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK ON MARCH 13
Brendan McKay was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon marking the third career Pitcher of the Week honor and the first this season for the talented junior. McKay had a career-high 15 strikeouts while allowing only two hits in seven shutout innings to earn the victory in the Cardinals' 3-0 series-opening win against Pitt on March 10. The 15 strikeouts were two better than McKay's previous high of 13 and the outing marked the 20th time he has finished with eight or more strikeouts in a single game.
LOUISVILLE IN NATIONAL POLLS EVERY WEEK SINCE BEGINNING OF 2012
Louisville, which surpassed its previous high national ranking of No. 2 (in 2016) with this week's No. 1 ranking, has enjoyed a historic run by remaining in at least one of the major national polls every week since the release of the 2012 preseason rankings -- the longest such span in school history. Ranked in the top 12 in all six major preseason polls for 2017, the Cardinals have received a preseason top 10 ranking in five straight seasons (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) and have earned a preseason national ranking in 10 straight seasons (2008-2017) overall.
NCBWA NAMES MCKAY NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY
Brendan McKay was named National Player of the Month for February by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. McKay had a prolific month, both at the plate and on the mound. In seven games, McKay hit .619 (13-for-21) with a double, three homers and 11 RBI. He had six walks, was hit by two pitches and struck out just once. In two Friday starts, McKay posted wins and a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings. He allowed only six hits and four walks, striking out 14.
MCKAY ON GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Brendan McKay was named to the preseason watch list for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award on Feb. 15. The 55-player list was announced by USA Baseball and is the first step in identifying the top amateur baseball player in the nation for the 2017 season. The announcement marked the second consecutive year McKay has been included on the watch list for the Golden Spikes Award. The lefthanded pitcher and first baseman from Darlington, Pennsylvania was a semifinalist for the award in each of his first two collegiate seasons. The 40th Golden Spikes Award will be presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation on June 29 in Los Angeles.
CARDINALS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN ACC ATLANTIC IN 2017
Louisville was the second choice in the 2017 ACC Atlantic Division race in a vote of the conference's 14 head coaches, while Florida State was chosen as the favorite to win the division and conference championships. The Seminoles were picked by 10 coaches as the team to beat in the conference. Back-to-back ACC Atlantic Division champion Louisville, Clemson, North Carolina, and NC State also had one vote each for overall conference champion.
Florida State led the way in the Atlantic Division with 93 points, followed by Louisville (79), Clemson (66), NC State (64), Wake Forest (38), and Boston College and Notre Dame (26). The Seminoles were selected as division favorite by 10 coaches, while Louisville (2), Clemson and NC State (1) also picked up first place votes.
Six coaches picked North Carolina to win the Coastal Division, with Virginia (4), Miami (3), and Georgia Tech (1) also had first place votes. The Tar Heels picked up 86 points, ahead of Virginia (84), Miami (77), Georgia Tech (59), Duke (40), Virginia Tech (26), and Pitt (20).
MCKAY NAMED PRESEASON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior Brendan McKay was named preseason National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. McKay was the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and earned First Team All-America honors in each of his first two collegiate seasons. As a sophomore in 2016, McKay had a 12-4 record with a 2.30 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 17 starts on the mound, while hitting .333 with six home runs, 19 doubles and 41 RBI at the plate. The two-time All-ACC First Team selection also had a stellar summer hitting .326 with five RBI in 13 starts as a hitter and registering a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 13.1 innings on the mound for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
SPARGER, SUMMERS AND TAYLOR NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
Senior righthanded pitcher Jake Sparger and senior outfielders Ryan Summers and Logan Taylor were selected by Louisville players and coaches as team captains for the Cardinals baseball team in 2017. Sparger had 50 career appearances on the mound in his first three seasons with the Cardinals, including five starts, and accumulated a 3-2 record with a 3.42 ERA. Summers had 37 collegiate starts while appearing in 108 games during his first three years at Louisville.
Taylor played in 177 games and made 81 total starts during his first three seasons as a Cardinal.
49 OF 56 REGULAR SEASON GAMES SLATED FOR ESPN PLATFORMS
The Louisville baseball team's 2017 television schedule features 49 of 56 regular season games on ESPN platforms, including all 30 ACC contests. The 49 regular season games slated for television coverage are the most in school history. The Cardinals will play once on ESPN2 with their May 14 contest at Clemson and once on ESPNU when they host Florida State in the regular season finale on May 20 at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville will make one appearance on the ACC's Regional Sports Network with the March 25 game at NC State, while 45 games will be televised exclusively on ACC Network Extra, available on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. The Cardinals will make one appearance on the SEC Network with their April 18 game at Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FIELD TO HOST 2017 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship will be played at Louisville Slugger Field in downtown Louisville as announced by the conference on Oct. 4. Louisville Slugger Field, which opened in 2000, boasts a seating capacity of 13,131. Home to the Louisville Bats' minor league team, the stadium played host to the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game and features 32 private suites in addition to second-level club seating.
"The city of Louisville knows how to host big events, especially sporting events, and I believe all of the ACC teams will enjoy the experience of playing in a great sports town and in a terrific ballpark," said UofL baseball head coach Dan McDonnell. "I'm also excited our fan base will have the opportunity to experience and support the ACC Baseball Championship."
The 2017 ACC Baseball Championship will be the event's first time to be held in the state of Kentucky. It will also be the first year under a new format, as the championship will include 12 teams and feature a pool play format leading into a four-team, single-elimination bracket to determine the league champion.
The 12 teams in the championship will be grouped into four pools of three teams apiece. Pool play will take place Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with three games per day. Each pool will play a round robin, with the top team advancing to the semifinals. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, followed by the championship on Sunday.
LOUISVILLE, MCDONNELL AGREE ON NEW 10-YEAR CONTRACT
University of Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell agreed to a new contract that will keep him as the Cardinals head coach for the next 10 years, UofL Vice President and Director of Athletics Tom Jurich announced on June 1, 2016. McDonnell had five years remaining on his current contract and the new agreement will extend his relationship with UofL through the 2025-26 season. The winningest coach in Louisville baseball history, McDonnell guided the Cardinals to three College World Series appearances, six NCAA Super Regional berths and nine NCAA Championship appearances in his first 10 seasons.
BACK-TO-BACK ACC ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
A year after setting the single season record for ACC wins in its debut campaign with a 25-5 conference mark, Louisville successfully defended its Atlantic Division title by winning seven of its 10 ACC series in 2016. The Cardinals, who have won five straight regular season conference championships, have lost just three of their 20 ACC series the last two seasons while compiling a 47-13 record during that stretch, including a 27-3 mark at home.
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM CONTINUES FOR THE CARDINALS
As the Louisville baseball team was making significant progress on the field during its 2016 fall workouts, the Cardinals also maintained their impressive work in the classroom registering a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better for the 11th consecutive semester. The notable stretch of academic success has covered five-and-a-half years overall since starting with fall semester in 2011.
The span of 11 straight semesters with a team GPA of 3.0 or better includes the 2013 and 2014 seasons, which culminated with back-to-back appearances at the College World Series. In each of those trips to Omaha, the Cardinals received the CWS Academic Award for having the highest team GPA of the eight programs advancing to the pinnacle of collegiate baseball.
LOUISVILLE AMONG SEVEN TO HOST SIX REGIONALS IN EIGHT YEARS
Louisville is one of just seven Division I schools to have hosted six or more NCAA Regionals over the last eight seasons (since 2009). That list features Florida (7), Florida State (7), Louisville (6), LSU (6), South Carolina (6), TCU (6) and Virginia (6). Additionally, the Cardinals are among just four teams to host in each of the last four seasons (Florida State, LSU and Vanderbilt).
FIVE CONSECUTIVE 40-WIN SEASONS FOR THE CARDINALS
Winning at least 50 games for the fourth time ever in 2016, Louisville reached the 40-win plateau for the fifth straight season and the ninth time in 10 seasons. The Cardinals have registered 40 or more regular season wins in four consecutive seasons, including matching a school record with 46 regular season wins in 2016 equaling the total accomplished in 2010 and 2013.
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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