Friday, May 5
South Bend, Ind.
6:05 PM
University of Louisville
at
Notre Dame
Devin Mann matched a career high with three hits in Tuesday's win over Miami.
Weekend Visit to Notre Dame Up Next for No. 2 Louisville
May 04, 2017 | Baseball
Cardinals and Fighting Irish open three-game series on Friday at 6 p.m., ET
| GAME DAY INFORMATION #2 Louisville at Notre Dame Location: South Bend, Ind. Venue: Frank Eck Stadium (2,500) Twitter Updates: @UofLBaseball Game Notes: Louisville | Notre Dame | Media Center Friday, May 5 | 6:05 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: WXVW 1450 AM/96.1 FM LOU: Jr. LHP Brendan McKay (6-3, 2.15 ERA) ND: Jr. RHP Brad Bass (2-6, 4.57 ERA) Saturday, May 6 | 4:05 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: WXVW 1450 AM/96.1 FM LOU: Jr. RHP Kade McClure (5-1, 3.28 ERA) ND: Gr. LHP Michael Hearne (3-3, 4.03 ERA) Sunday, May 7 | 1:05 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACC Network Extra | Radio: 93.9 The Ville LOU: Fr. LHP Nick Bennett (4-0, 2.13 ERA) ND: Jr. RHP Brandon Bielak (2-6, 5.40 ERA) |
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Louisville enters the weekend on an eight-game winning streak and 39-6 overall after a midweek win against Miami (Ohio) Tuesday at Patterson Stadium. The Cardinals are 17-4 in the ACC after earning a series victory against Duke on April 21-23. Louisville, which set a record for the best start to a season in school history with 19 straight wins, has won each of its 10 weekend series this season, including seven straight against ACC foes.
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 fifth in the nation in on-base percentage at .511, eighth in slugging percentage at .747 and 27th in batting with a .390 average to go with a team-leading 14 home runs and 43 RBI. The three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week also has a 6-3 record with a 2.15 ERA and 95 strikeouts (ninth in NCAA) in 10 Friday starts on the mound. McKay has a 27-10 career record with a 2.07 ERA and 340 strikeouts (second all-time at UofL) to go with a .338 career batting average in 162 starts as a hitter.
Drew Ellis enters the weekend on a 15-game hitting streak while ranking ninth in the nation in batting average at .405, fifth in slugging percentage at .759 and ninth in on-base percentage at .500 to go with 13 home runs and 44 RBI while splitting time between first base and third base. Devin Hairston is batting .322 with a 44 RBI at the plate and has just one error (.994 fielding percentage) while starting all 45 games at shortstop.
Junior Lincoln Henzman leads the Louisville bullpen as the righthander ranks fourth in the nation with 13 saves to go with a 2-0 record, 1.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 26.0 innings of work. Junior righty Sam Bordner has also been outstanding delivering 28.0 innings of scoreless relief with 22 strikeouts and just four walks.
ABOUT THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame is 23-23 overall following a midweek win over Northwestern and 10-14 in the ACC after winning two of three against Duke last weekend. The Blue Devils have won five of their last six games and three straight home series. Last season, Notre Dame was 27-27 overall and seventh in the ACC Atlantic with an 11-17 record.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville is 22-8 all-time against Notre Dame, including a nine-game winning streak in the series. The Cardinals have swept three straight weekend series, including wins of 2-0, 6-4 (18 innings) and 3-0 in the their most recent visit to South Bend in 2015. Louisville is 8-1 all-time at Frank Eck Stadium.
ACC ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE
With three weekends remaining in the regular season, the back-to-back ACC Atlantic champions are atop the division with a 17-4 mark, while Clemson is second at 16-8. Wake Forest is third at 13-8 and is followed by Florida State (11-12), NC State (11-13), Notre Dame (10-14) and Boston College (7-17). North Carolina leads the ACC Coastal with an 18-5 record, five games ahead of second-place Virginia (14-10).
TEAM NOTES AND TRENDS
• Louisville is No. 7 in this week's NCAA RPI and among five ACC schools in the top 11 spots.
• The Cardinals are No. 1 in the nation in shutouts, third in hits allowed per 9 IP, fourth in WHIP, sixth in ERA, 12th in strikeout-to-walk ratio, 13th in strikeouts per 9 IP, 13th in scoring, 14th in hit-by-pitch, 16th in fielding percentage, 17th in on-base percentage and 20th in stolen bases.
• Louisville has won 24 of its 27 ACC series since joining the league and is 26-1 in its series finales during that span, including an 11-1 record in rubber games.
• The Cardinals have won all 14 ACC series at home since debuting in the conference in 2015.
• Louisville has won 33 straight regular season weekend series at home dating back to 2013.
• The Cardinals have a 36-0 record this season when leading after eight innings.
• A season after setting a school record for highest fielding percentage (.978), Louisville has maintained a similar pace in 2017 with 33 errors in 45 games for a .980 fielding percentage.
• The Cardinals have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 24 of 45 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.
• Louisville is second in the ACC in ERA and third in the league in team batting average.
• In 21 ACC games, the Cardinals pitching staff has a 2.82 ERA with 187 strikeouts in 188.0 innings of work.
• The UofL bullpen has a 2.26 ERA and 19-0 record with 181 strikeouts in 187.1 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .197 overall against the Cardinals relief staff.
• Louisville is 73-of-91 on stolen base attempts this season (20th 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.
• 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 fifth in NCAA in on-base percentage, eighth in slugging and 27th in batting average while also ranking ninth in strikeouts as a pitcher... No. 1 in ACC in on-base percentage and WHIP, fourth in ERA and fourth in average... Has eight or more strikeouts 25 times in collegiate career, including career-high 15 strikeouts in March 10 win over Pitt... In 23 pitching starts at Jim Patterson Stadium, McKay is 19-3 with a 1.85 ERA (32 earned runs in 155.0 IP) and 199 strikeouts... In 28 career appearances on the mound at home (including 23 starts), McKay is 20-3 with four saves, a 1.77 ERA (32 earned runs in 162.0 IP) and 206 strikeouts... Has reached base in 42 of 44 games played in 2017 while delivering 18 multi-hit outings.
• Kade McClure: Ranks eighth in ACC in strikeouts... Has 18-2 career record... Had season-high 10 strikeouts on April 8... Won 12 of 13 starts last season and was tied for fifth in NCAA in wins... 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 4-0 record in nine career collegiate starts... Ranks third in the ACC in ERA and fourth in WHIP... Twirled career-best seven scoreless innings in April 23 win over Duke... 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 fourth in NCAA and No. 1 in ACC with 13 saves... Opened 2017 with 13.1 consecutive innings of scoreless relief... Has 27 strikeouts with just seven walks in 26.0 innings pitched... 16 career saves ranks tied for fourth all-time at Louisville.
• Drew Ellis: Ranks fifth in NCAA in slugging, ninth in on-base and ninth in batting average... No. 1 in ACC in average and slugging, No. 2 in on-base and No. 6 in home runs... Riding career-best 15-game hitting streak... .491 batting average with eight home runs and 20 RBI during 15-game hitting streak... Had 32 starts last season... .369 career batting average.
• Devin Hairston: Ranks ninth in ACC in RBI... Tied for team lead with 44 RBI to go with 12 multi-RBI games... Has just one error in 177 chances (.994%) while starting all 45 games at shortstop... 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.
• Logan Taylor: Second in ACC in stolen bases... Has reached base safely in 35 of 38 starts this season... Played in 218 career games with 119 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 33 of 45 games at catcher while starting another 11 games at designated hitter... Hit four of five home runs, 22 of 25 RBI in his 27 starts last season.
• Josh Stowers: Ranks fourth in ACC in stolen bases... Had career highs with two home runs, four RBI in April 28 win over Toledo... Delivered career-best three hits against No. 17 Wake Forest on April 8... Had two-hit outing and one RBI in first start on Feb. 18 against No. 22 Maryland.
• Colin Lyman: Had career highs with four hits and five RBI in April 30 win over Toledo... 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... 202 career appearances.
• Devin Mann: Hitting .370 with 13 RBI in last 15 games... Matched career-high with three hits versus Miami (Ohio) on May 2... Reached base safely in 37 of 44 starts this season... Hit .307 with eight doubles, 16 RBI and 13 runs in 19 starts last season.
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 ranked 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. Louisville has held down the No. 2 national ranking in each of the last six weeks.
MCKAY EQUALS SCHOOL RECORD WITH FOUR HOME RUNS AT EKU
Brendan McKay matched a school record with four home runs and finished with a career-best nine RBI in Louisville's 14-4 win at Eastern Kentucky on April 25. The four home runs equaled the total achieved by Jim LaFountain against Western Kentucky on April 24, 1976. The performance by McKay marked the most home runs by an NCAA Division I player this season, while the nine RBI equaled the third highest total in the nation. McKay's 4-for-5 day at the plate included a two-run homer in the first inning, a two-run bomb in the second, a three-run homer in the fourth and another two-run shot in the ninth. The nine RBI for McKay were the most for a Louisville player since Chris Dominguez had nine RBI in a win over Milwaukee on May 6, 2009.
MCKAY, ELLIS EARN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS ON MAY 1
Brendan McKay was named ACC Co-Player of the Week on May 1. Additionally, both McKay and Drew Ellis were named as National Players of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. ACC weekly honors are determined by a vote of a select media panel. This is the sixth career weekly award for McKay (five Pitcher of the Week honors, including three this season, and one Player of the Week award), tying the all-time ACC record for weekly recognition held by Clemson's Kris Benson, Florida State's J.D. Drew, and Paul Wilson, and NC State's Terry Harvey. McKay and Ellis were among the nine players selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper as national standouts for the week. Louisville was the only school with multiple players on this week's list.
McKay hit .429 with six home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.286 slugging percentage as the Cardinals went 5-0 overall during the week. On April 25, he matched a school record with four home runs to go with a career-best nine RBIs in the 14-4 win at Eastern Kentucky. The four home runs is tied for the third most in a game in NCAA history. While hitting safely in all five games for the Cardinals, the first baseman from Darlington, Pennsylvania, capped the week with another multi-home run performance, connecting for two homers and three RBIs in Sunday's 17-2 win against Toledo. On the mound, the lefthander finished with 12 strikeouts in eight innings to earn the victory in Friday's series-opening win against Toledo.
Ellis was outstanding during the week of April 25-30 hitting .611 (11-for-18) with four home runs, two doubles, one triple, seven RBI, .636 on-base percentage and 1.500 slugging percentage for Louisville. The infielder finished with at least two hits in each of the five games, including connecting for a pair of home runs in the 6-4 win over Northern Kentucky on April 26. The Jeffersonville, Indiana native had an extra-base hit in four of the five games and drove in at least one run in four of the games.
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.
HENZMAN NAMED TO STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Junior righthander Lincoln Henzman was named on April 26 to the midseason watch list for the 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. Among 40 of the nation's top relief pitchers on the watch list, Henzman ranks third nationally with his 13 saves while also accumulating a 1-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and 16 total appearances. The Lexington, Kentucky native ranks fourth on Louisville's single season saves leaderboard and sixth in career saves with 16. Previous winners of the award include former Cardinals standout and 2014 recipient Nick Burdi.
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 78 percent of their games in the ballpark posting a 340-95 record (.781 winning percentage), including an impressive 36-3 mark during the 2016 season at the corner of Third and Central. Louisville has won 60 of its last 63 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.
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.
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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