Friday, April 21
LOUISVILLE, KY
3:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
DUKE
Lincoln Henzman is first in the ACC and fifth in the nation with 11 saves this season.
Photo by: Mike DeZarn
No. 2 Louisville, Duke to Open Weekend with Friday Doubleheader
April 20, 2017 | Baseball
Series will begin with two games on Friday at 3 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium and admission is free
| GAME DAY INFORMATION #2 Louisville vs. Duke Location: Louisville, Ky. Venue: Jim Patterson Stadium (4,000) Twitter Updates: @UofLBaseball Game Notes: Louisville | Duke | Media Center Friday, April 21 | 3:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: WXVW 1450 AM/96.1 FM LOU: Jr. LHP Brendan McKay (5-2, 1.19 ERA) DU: Jr. LHP Mitch Stallings (3-3, 3.80 ERA) Friday, April 21 | 6:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: 93.9 The Ville LOU: Jr. RHP Kade McClure (4-1, 3.08 ERA) DU: TBD Saturday, April 22 or Sunday, April 23 | 1 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: 93.9 The Ville LOU: Fr. LHP Nick Bennett (3-0, 2.27 ERA) DU: Jr. RHP Ryan Day (3-2, 2.23 ERA) |
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
The Cardinals enter their sixth ACC weekend of the season at 31-5 overall and 15-3 in the ACC after earning a series sweep of Georgia Tech last weekend in Atlanta. Louisville, which set a record for the best start to a season in school history with 19 straight wins, has won each of its eight weekend series this season, including six straight against ACC opponents.
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 March 13 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. After holding a No. 1 ranking for two weeks, Louisville has been ranked in the No. 2 position in each of the last four weeks.
Brendan McKay, the two-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, leads the Cardinals at the plate and on the mound. McKay is fourth in the nation in on-base percentage at .523 and 25th in batting with a .398 average to go along with seven home runs and 28 RBI. The three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week also has a 5-2 record with a 1.19 ERA (ninth in NCAA) and 76 strikeouts (11th in NCAA) in eight Friday starts on the mound. McKay has a 26-9 career record with a 1.87 ERA and 321 strikeouts (second all-time at UofL) to go with a .337 career batting average in 153 starts as a hitter.
As a team, the Cardinals are third in the nation in shutouts, fifth in ERA, sixth in hits allowed per 9 IP, eighth in WHIP, 12th in strikeouts per 9 IP, 20th in strikeout-to-walk ratio, 21st in on-base percentage, 22nd in stolen bases, 22nd in fielding percentage and 23rd in scoring.
ABOUT THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Duke enters the weekend at 20-19 overall following an 8-4 win over North Carolina Central on Wednesday and 7-11 in the ACC after dropping two of three to Boston College last weekend. The Blue Devils have lost two of three in each of their last five series after winning two of three against Virginia Tech to begin conference play. Last season, Duke was 33-25 overall and third in the ACC Coastal with a 14-15 mark. The Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Championship as an at-large selection and was 0-2 in the Columbia Regional.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville is 2-1 all-time against Duke having earned a series win in the only previous meetings between the programs in 2015 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
ACC ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE
Through six weeks of ACC action, the reigning back-to-back ACC Atlantic champions are atop the division with a 15-3 mark, while Clemson is next at 14-4. Wake Forest is third at 12-6 and followed by Florida State (9-9), NC State (8-10), Notre Dame (7-11) and Boston College (3-15). North Carolina leads the ACC Coastal with a 14-4 record, four games ahead of the field.
TEAM NOTES AND TRENDS
• With Saturday's win at Georgia Tech, the 2017 Louisville squad achieved the best record through 35 games in program history (31-4) surpassing the 2010 team, which had 29-6 record through the same number of games.
• UofL has won 23 of its 26 ACC series overall and is 25-1 in its series finales during that span.
• The Cardinals have won all 13 ACC series at home since debuting in the conference in 2015.
• Louisville has won 31 straight regular season weekend series at home dating back to 2013.
• A season after setting a school record for highest fielding percentage (.978), Louisville has maintained a similar pace in 2017 with 28 errors in 36 games for a .979 fielding percentage.
• The Cardinals have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 21 of 36 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 18 ACC games, the Cardinals pitching staff has a 2.74 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 161.0 innings of work.
• The UofL bullpen has a 2.45 ERA and 15-0 record with 144 strikeouts in 150.1 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .201 overall.
• Louisville is 60-of-71 on stolen base attempts this season (22ND 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 are second in the ACC in ERA and third in the league in team batting average.
• While at Louisville, coach Dan 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: Named midseason national Player of the Year by both Baseball America and Perfect Game... Two-way standout is fourth in NCAA in on-base percentage and 25th in batting average while also ranking ninth in the nation in ERA and 11th in strikeouts... Ranks No. 1 in the ACC in ERA and on-base percentage and second in batting average... Has finished with eight or more strikeouts 24 times in collegiate career, including career-high 15 strikeouts in March 10 win over Pittsburgh... In 21 pitching starts at Jim Patterson Stadium, McKay is 18-2 with a 1.46 ERA (23 earned runs in 141.0 IP) and 180 strikeouts... In 26 career appearances on the mound at home (including 21 starts), McKay is 19-2 with four saves, a 1.40 ERA (23 earned runs in 147.0 IP) and 187 strikeouts... Has reached base in 33 of 35 games played in 2017 while delivering 16 multi-hit outings.
• Kade McClure: Ranks sixth in ACC in strikeouts... Has 17-2 career record... Had season-high 10 strikeouts on April 8... 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: Has 3-0 record in seven career collegiate starts... Ranks fifth in the ACC in ERA and fourth in WHIP... Allowed one hit and registered seven strikeouts while facing the minimum of 18 batters for first career victory in first ever start against Eastern Michigan on March 3.
• Lincoln Henzman: Ranks fifth in NCAA and No. 1 in ACC with 11 saves... Opened 2017 with 13.1 consecutive innings of scoreless relief... Has 21 strikeouts with just three walks in 21.1 innings pitched... 14 career saves ranks tied for sixth all-time at Louisville.
• Logan Taylor: Fifth in the ACC in stolen bases... Has reached base safely in 29 of 31 starts this season... Played in 210 career games with 112 starts... One of three team captains in 2017.
• Colby Fitch: Named to 2017 Johnny Bench Award Watch List... Has 12 multi-hit games this season... Has started 27 of 36 games at catcher while starting other nine games at designated hitter... Hit four of five home runs, 22 of 25 RBI in his 27 starts last season.
• Devin Hairston: Ranks ninth in the ACC in RBI... Leads team with 37 RBI and 10 multi-RBI games... Ended stretch of 35 straight games without an error (dating back to 2016) with ninth inning miscue on April 11... Career-best five RBI in three-hit game vs. Fort Wayne on March 8... Started all 64 games in 2016 earning All-America and All-ACC honors.
• Drew Ellis: Ranks ninth in the ACC in batting average... Has homered in last two games... Leads team with 11 doubles to go with seven 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... .341 career batting average.
• Josh Stowers: Ranks second in the ACC in stolen bases... Reached base safely in 20 straight games from March 10 to April 11... Delivered career-best three hits against No. 17 Wake Forest on April 8... Had two-hit outing and one RBI in first ever start on Feb. 18 against No. 22 Maryland.
• Colin Lyman: Hit first career home run and had career-best three hits on March 1 against Morehead State... Had 47 starts and 60 games played last season... 193 career appearances.
• Devin Mann: Homered in final two games of NC State series... Reached base safely in 28 of 35 starts this season... Hit .307 with eight doubles, 16 RBI and 13 runs in 19 starts last season.
• Ryan Summers: Has played in 14 of last 16 games, including eight starts... 52 career starts and 137 total appearances... One of three team captains for 2017.
LOUISVILLE IN NATIONAL POLLS EVERY WEEK SINCE BEGINNING OF 2012
Louisville, which surpassed its previous high national ranking of No. 2 (in 2016) with the No. 1 ranking on March 13 and March 20, has enjoyed a historic run by remaining in at least one major national poll 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.
MCKAY ON GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Brendan McKay was named Wednesday to the midseason watch list for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award. The 40-player list was announced by USA Baseball and is the second step in identifying the top amateur baseball player in the nation for the 2017 season. The announcement marked the third consecutive year McKay has been included on the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award. The Darlington, Pennsylvania native was selected as 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.
MCKAY NAMED ACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK THREE TIMES IN 2017
Brendan McKay earned his third ACC Pitcher of the Week honor on April 17 after receiving the award in back-to-back weeks on March 13 and March 20. McKay's most recent Pitcher of the Week selection came after he allowed just one hit in eight dominant innings on the mound to lead No. 2 Louisville to a 3-0 victory over Georgia Tech in the series-opening win at Russ Chandler Stadium on April 13. McKay finished with eight strikeouts while surrendering only a fourth inning single to go with two walks to move to 5-2 on the season and 26-9 in his collegiate career.
The second Pitcher of the Week honor was awarded after McKay finished with 12 strikeouts and scattered five singles with one walk in seven shutout innings to move to 4-0 on the season in a win over Boston College on March 17. The first of the three honors came after McKay had a career-high 15 strikeouts while allowing only two hits in seven shutout innings against Pitt on March 10. The 15 strikeouts were two better than McKay's previous high of 13.
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.
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 334-94 record (.780 winning percentage), including an impressive 36-3 mark during the 2016 season at the corner of Third and Central. Louisville has won 54 of its last 56 regular season games at Jim Patterson Stadium.
29 CARDINALS ASSIGNED TO MLB, MiLB TEAMS FOR 2017
During Dan McDonnell's tenure as head coach, University of Louisville baseball alumni have consistently made the successful transition from college to professional baseball. A total of 29 former Cardinals were assigned to MLB and MiLB teams to begin the 2017 season. A complete list of #ProCards is available online at gocards.com/probaseballcards.
Since McDonnell's hiring prior to the 2007 season, 50 Louisville players have signed professional contracts after being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including a school record nine Cardinals in 2010. The 2016 MLB Draft featured a record-setting three first round selections from Louisville and seven total draftees in the first 115 picks overall. Seven former Cardinals appeared in MLB games during the 2016 season, led by Cincinnati Reds outfielder and All-Star Adam Duvall.
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.
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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