Sunday, June 18
Omaha, NE
2:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
Texas A&M
Louisville Embarks on Fourth College World Series
June 15, 2017 | Baseball
No. 7 Cardinals travel to Omaha Thursday and will open CWS Sunday against Texas A&M
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 7 national seed Louisville baseball team will make its fourth College World Series appearance in school history, including the third in the last five seasons, as the Cardinals open the 71st edition of the event against Texas A&M (41-21) Sunday at 1 p.m., CT at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Louisville and Texas A&M are joined in one side of the bracket by No. 3 Florida (47-18) and No. 6 TCU (47-16), while No. 1 Oregon State (54-4), Cal State Fullerton (39-22), No. 4 LSU (48-17) and Florida State (45-21) complete the field of eight teams. Every game of the 2017 CWS will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN. Radio coverage for all Louisville baseball games in the postseason will be provided by 93.9 The Ville.
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
The Cardinals arrive in Omaha with a 52-10 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the NCAA Championship after sweeping through last weekend's Super Regional against Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville, which set a record for the best start to a season in school history with 19 straight wins, won 12 of its 13 regular season weekend series, including eight series sweeps.
Brendan McKay, the 2017 National Player of the Year, 2017 ACC Player of the Year, three-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and No. 4 selection in the MLB Draft (Tampa Bay Rays), leads the way for the Cardinals ranking second in the nation in total strikeouts as a pitcher while also ranking 21st in the nation in slugging percentage as a hitter. The six-time ACC Pitcher of the Week (four this season) has a 10-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and school record 140 strikeouts while hitting .343 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs. McKay has a 31-10 career record with a 2.15 ERA and 385 strikeouts (school record) to go with a .328 career batting average.
Drew Ellis, a First Team All-American, All-ACC First Team selection and second round selection in the MLB Draft (Arizona Diamondbacks), enters the CWS ranked seventh in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.729) and 10th in home runs (20) to go with a .367 batting average and 18 doubles while splitting time between first base and third base. Shortstop Devin Hairston was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and has just three errors and a .987 fielding percentage while also hitting .306 with a 51 RBIs.
Lincoln Henzman, a Stopper of the Year finalist, First Team All-American, All-ACC First Team honoree, is second nationally with 16 saves to go with a 3-0 record, 1.77 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. All-American reliever Sam Bordner has also been strong out of the pen with a 0.47 ERA, 2-0 record, three saves and 35 strikeouts in 38.2 innings.
NATIONAL SEED FOR THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON, FOURTH TIME OVERALL
Louisville was selected as a national seed for the third straight season and the fourth time in school history. The Cardinals were also a national seed in 2010 (No. 7), 2015 (No. 3) and 2016 (No. 2). Louisville is making its 10th NCAA postseason appearance in the last 11 seasons and the program's 11th NCAA appearance overall. Along with the 2017 NCAA Regional, the Cardinals also hosted the regional round of the NCAA Championship in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 while also hosting NCAA Super Regional series in 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK ACC ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Louisville baseball team continued its impressive run in the Atlantic Coast Conference by winning its third straight Atlantic Division championship in 2017. The Cardinals, who set a single season record for ACC wins in their debut season with a 25-5 mark in 2015, have compiled a 70-19 record in the conference during the last three seasons while only Miami (59 wins) and Virginia (52) have at least 50 wins during that span. Louisville has won 26 of its 30 ACC series and is 28-1 in its series finales during that span, including an 11-1 record in rubber games.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
• Louisville is making its fourth College World Series appearance overall, including the third in the last five seasons. The Cardinals are 1-6 all-time in the CWS.
• Making their 10th NCAA Championship appearance in the last 11 seasons under head coach Dan McDonnell, the Cardinals are 36-21 overall in NCAA postseason games during that span. Louisville is 36-23 all-time in the NCAA Championship going 0-2 in the NCAA Atlanta Regional in 2002.
• The Cardinals were among seven ACC teams in the 2017 NCAA Championship, including five NCAA Regional hosts.
• During his last 13 seasons as a collegiate coach, including his final two seasons as an assistant at Ole Miss in 2005 and 2006, McDonnell has advanced to 12 NCAA Regionals and nine NCAA Super Regionals to go along with four College World Series berths.
• The Cardinals played in their seventh NCAA Super Regional and improved to 9-7 overall in those appearances while winning four of the seven series.
• UofL competed against 10 of the other 63 teams in this year's NCAA Championship field during the regular season going 13-8 against those teams.
• Louisville has never faced Texas A&M or LSU on the baseball diamond. The Cardinals are 5-11 all-time against TCU, 1-4 versus Florida, 1-5 against Cal State Fullerton, 6-24 against Florida State (0-3 this season) and 0-1 versus Oregon State.
• The Cardinals are 27-8 all-time in NCAA postseason games at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville has won six of the seven NCAA Regionals as Patterson Stadium and has a 20-3 record overall in NCAA Regional games at the ballpark, including 15 straight wins.
• Louisville is 7-5 all-time in NCAA Super Regional games at Patterson Stadium having won three of the five series at the ballpark.
• In six career NCAA postseason starts on the mound, Brendan McKay is 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA (10 ER in 41.1 IP), 49 strikeouts and just eight walks.
• At the plate, McKay is hitting .241 (15-for-62) with three home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored in 16 NCAA postseason starts as a hitter.
• In 16 career NCAA Championship starts, Devin Hairston is hitting .362 (21-for-58) with seven doubles, six RBIs and 13 runs scored.
• Entering the 2017 CWS, Logan Taylor is 22-for-52 (.423 average) with one home run (only career home run), four doubles, 16 runs scored and 13 RBI in 21 career NCAA postseason games.
500 CAREER WINS FOR MCDONNELL
With Louisville's series-opening victory at No. 7 Clemson on May 12, 2017, Dan McDonnell earned career win No. 500 as a head coach and all of those came as the leader of the Cardinals. The winningest coach in school history, McDonnell averaged 45.6 wins per season in his first 10 seasons at the helm in Louisville and entered 2017 ranked fifth nationally among active coaches in winning percentage.
LOUISVILLE SWEEPS PAST KENTUCKY IN NCAA SUPER REGIONAL
The fourth College World Series berth in school history for Louisville was clinched after sweeping the first two games of the NCAA Super Regional against rival Kentucky. The Cardinals never trailed against the Wildcats earning a 5-2 win in game one and a 6-2 triumph in game two. Drew Ellis was the star of the weekend as the junior infielder was 4-for-8 with three home runs and six RBI in the two games. School record crowds of 6,237 in game two and 6,235 in game one packed in to Jim Patterson Stadium to watch the Battle of the Bluegrass.
CARDINALS PUSH NCAA REGIONAL WINNING STREAK TO 15 GAMES
Louisville won its fifth straight NCAA Regional while extending its winning streak in NCAA Regional games to 15 after sweeping through Radford (11-6), Oklahoma (11-1) and Xavier (8-7) to open the 2017 NCAA Championship. Josh Stowers paced the offense in the opening weekend of the tournament finishing 6-for-10 at the plate with four doubles, one home run and seven RBI in the three games as Louisville finished with 11 extra-base hits in the NCAA Regional.
TEAM NOTES AND TRENDS
• Louisville has set a school record for single season wins with 52 after previously matching the school record for regular season wins at 46 equaling the total achieved in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
• The Cardinals are third in the nation in ERA, fourth in hits allowed per 9 IP, fourth in WHIP, fifth in shutouts, 11th in strikeouts per 9 IP, 16th in strikeout-to-walk ratio, 17th in stolen bases, 19th in hit-by-pitch, 22nd in scoring and 30th in slugging percentage.
• Louisville has won 26 of its 30 ACC series since joining the league and is 28-1 in its series finales during that span, including an 11-1 record in rubber games.
• The Cardinals have won 14 of their 15 ACC series at home since debuting in the conference.
• The Cardinals have a 49-0 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 57 errors in 62 games for a .975 fielding percentage.
• The Cardinals have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 33 of 62 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 No. 1 in the ACC in ERA and third in the league in team batting average.
• The UofL bullpen has a 2.33 ERA and 23-1 record with 236 strikeouts in 247.0 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .205 overall against the Cardinals relief staff.
• Louisville is 97-of-120 on stolen base attempts this season (17th 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 four College World Series berths, seven NCAA Super Regional appearances, 10 NCAA Regional bids, seven regular season conference championships and two conference tournament titles with 32 All-Americans.
PLAYER NOTES AND TRENDS
• Brendan McKay: 2017 National Player of the Year (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper), John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year... All-ACC First Team as starting pitcher and DH/utility player... Finalist for Dick Howser Trophy... Semifinalist for 2017 Golden Spikes Award... Second in the nation in strikeouts as a pitcher and 21st in NCAA in slugging percentage as a hitter... Has eight or more strikeouts 28 times in collegiate career, including career-high 15 strikeouts in March 10 win over Pitt... In 26 pitching starts at Patterson Stadium, McKay was 20-3 with a 2.08 ERA (40 earned runs in 173.0 IP) and 221 strikeouts... In 31 career pitching appearances at home (including 26 starts), McKay was 21-3 with four saves, a 2.00 ERA (40 earned runs in 180.0 IP) and 228 strikeouts.
• Kade McClure: All-ACC Third Team... Ranks seventh in ACC in strikeouts... Has 21-4 career record... 102 strikeouts in 2017 are 10th most in a season at Louisville... Had season-high 10 strikeouts on April 8... Won 12 of 13 starts in 2016 and was tied for fifth in NCAA in wins... Was also in top 10 in WHIP and hits allowed per 9 IP while earning All-America honors last season.
• Nick Bennett: Freshman All-American... All-ACC Third Team... Has 5-0 record in 12 collegiate starts... Ranks fifth in ACC in WHIP and ninth in ERA... Twirled career-best seven scoreless innings in April 23 win over Duke... Allowed one hit and registered seven strikeouts while facing minimum of 18 batters for first career victory in first ever start against Eastern Michigan March 3.
• Lincoln Henzman: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper First Team All-America... NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist... All-ACC First Team... Ranks No. 2 in the nation with 16 saves... Opened 2017 with 13.1 consecutive innings of scoreless relief... 19 career saves tied for third all-time at Louisville.
• Drew Ellis: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper First Team All-America... All-ACC First Team... Semifinalist for 2017 Golden Spikes Award... Named National Player of the Month for April by NCBWA... Seventh in NCAA in slugging and 10th in home runs... No. 1 in ACC in slugging, second in average and home runs and fourth in on-base percentage... Had 32 starts last season... .345 career batting average.
• Devin Hairston: ACC Defensive Player of the Year... All-ACC Third Team... Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award (nation's top shortstop)... Third on team with 51 RBIs to go with 12 multi-RBI games... Just three errors in 233 chances (.987%) while starting all 62 games at shortstop... Career-best five RBIs in three-hit game vs. Fort Wayne on March 8... Earned All-America and All-ACC honors in 2016... 182 career starts.
• Logan Taylor: .389 average with eight runs scored in five NCAA Championship games in 2017... Has hit in the leadoff spot in the lineup in 54 of 55 starts this season... Third in ACC in stolen bases... Has reached base safely in 50 of 55 starts... Played in 235 career games with 136 starts... One of three team captains in 2017.
• Colby Fitch: All-ACC Second Team... Selected as ACC Player of the Week on May 15 after hitting .500 with three home runs and five RBIs from May 9-14... Has 16 multi-hit games this season... Has started 46 of 62 games at catcher while starting another 13 games at designated hitter... Hit four of five home runs, 22 of 25 RBIs in his 27 starts last season.
• Devin Mann: Matched career-high with three hits versus Miami (Ohio) on May 2... Has reached base safely in 30 of last 33 games and 51 of 61 starts this season... Hit .307 with eight doubles, 16 RBIs and 13 runs in 19 starts last season.
• Josh Stowers: Ranks third in ACC in stolen bases... Delivered career-best four hits in May 25 win over Notre Dame... Had career highs with two home runs, four RBIs in April 28 win over Toledo... 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 RBIs 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... 219 career appearances.
MCKAY EARNS TWO NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS; ELLIS, HENZMAN EARN FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Brendan McKay was named as the 2017 National Player of the Year by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper, while junior infielder Drew Ellis and junior righthander Lincoln Henzman were tabbed as First Team All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. McKay, who is also a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, is the first Louisville baseball player to earn a national player of the year award. The Darlington, Pennsylvania native was also a First Team All-American selection as a utility player. The All-America honors are the first both Ellis and Henzman, who were also second team selections by Baseball America.
MCKAY WINS THIRD STRAIGHT JOHN OLERUD AWARD
Having already set the standard as the only two-time winner of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016, Brendan McKay took it to another level on June 12 earning the honor for a third consecutive season as the 2017 recipient. McKay has separated himself in 2017 as not only the best two-way player in the country, but as the nation's top collegiate baseball player overall having already received a pair of National Player of the Year honors from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Serving as the ace in the starting pitching rotation for No. 7 Louisville, McKay is also the cleanup hitter for the Cardinals.
ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO MCKAY, HAIRSTON TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER, MCDONNELL EARNS THIRD STRAIGHT COACH OF THE YEAR
Junior two-way standout Brendan McKay was named 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, junior shortstop Devin Hairston received the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year honor and Dan McDonnell earned his third straight Coach of the Year award. The announcement marked the third straight season the Cardinals have received at least two of the ACC's major individual honors and it is the ninth time in the last 11 seasons Louisville has claimed a conference Player or Pitcher of the Year award.
McKay adds the prestigious Player of the Year honor to his 2015 Freshman of the Year award while also being tabbed as an All-ACC First Team selection as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter/utility player. McDonnell becomes the first skipper in ACC history to receive three consecutive Coach of the Year honors.
Along with the three major award winners, Louisville had four All-ACC First Team honorees as junior third baseman Drew Ellis and junior righthanded reliever Lincoln Henzman accompanied McKay's two selections. Junior catcher Colby Fitch was named All-ACC Second Team, while freshman lefthanded starter Nick Bennett, Hairston and junior righty starter Kade McClure were All-ACC Third Team members. Bennett was also named to the All-Freshman Team.
HENZMAN NAMED FINALIST FOR STOPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Junior righthander Lincoln Henzman was named June 7 as a finalist for the 13th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. Henzman was among five finalists for the award joining Florida's Michael Byrne, Josh Hiatt of North Carolina, Colton Hock of Stanford and Oregon's Kenyon Yovan. The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Saturday morning, June 17, at a news conference at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 10 a.m. CT. Previous winners of the award include former Cardinals standout and 2014 recipient Nick Burdi.
BENNETT EARNS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN HONOR FROM COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER
Lefthanded pitcher Nick Bennett was selected as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Bennett accumulated a 5-0 record with a 2.70 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 63.1 innings and 14 total appearances, including 12 starts. A native of Cincinnati, Bennett was an All-ACC Third Team selection and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team while serving as the No. 3 starter in the weekend rotation for the ACC Atlantic Division champions. Bennett enters this week's NCAA Super Regional ranking fifth in the ACC in WHIP and ninth in ERA.
ELLIS, MCKAY NAMED GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Juniors Drew Ellis and Brendan McKay were named May 31 among 25 semifinalists for the 40th USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award is given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States and is presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation.
McKay was chosen as a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist for the third time in as many collegiate seasons, while Ellis is a first-time semifinalist for the prestigious honor. Louisville, Oregon State and Virginia are the only schools with multiple Golden Spikes Award semifinalists in 2017 with two each. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads 10 different NCAA conferences represented on the list with six semifinalists.
USA Baseball officials will announce the finalists for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award on Wednesday, June 14. To select the finalists, the list of semifinalists is sent to a voting body consisting of past Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel, and select current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total. As part of the selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of semifinalists. Voting will be open until Friday, June 9.
HAIRSTON SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR BROOKS WALLACE AWARD
Devin Hairston was named among five finalists for the 2017 Brooks Wallace Award by the College Baseball Foundation. The award honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented this summer by the College Baseball Foundation. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Hairston, a finalist for the second consecutive season, is joined by Jeremy Eierman from Missouri State, Orlando Garcia from Texas Tech, Zach Rutherford from Old Dominion and Logan Warmoth from North Carolina.
ELLIS, MCKAY NAMED DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Junior tandem Drew Ellis and Brendan McKay were named May 18 among 25 semifinalists for the 2017 Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually to the top player in collegiate baseball. This is the 31st year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 9 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The 2017 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 16 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2017 CWS.
LOUISVILLE REACHES 50 WINS FOUR TIMES IN FIVE SEASONS; SIX CONSECUTIVE 40-WIN SEASONS FOR THE CARDINALS
Louisville has reached the 50-win plateau for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the Cardinals have won 40 or more games in 10 of head coach Dan McDonnell's 11 seasons, including each of the last six. Prior to McDonnell's arrival in Louisville, the Cardinals had never reached 40 wins in a season while the single season school record for victories was 39 in 2002. Louisville's current school record for single season wins is 51 in 2013.
SIX STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLES IN THREE DIFFERENT LEAGUES
On May 13, 2017, Louisville clinched its third consecutive ACC Atlantic Division championship marking the program's sixth straight regular season conference title in three different leagues. Last season, Louisville won the ACC Atlantic with a 22-8 record, while in 2015, the Cardinals set an ACC record for regular season wins finishing 25-5 to win the Atlantic in their debut season. After finishing with an 18-9 record and sharing the 2012 Big East title with St. John's, the Cardinals stood alone as champions in their final season in the league in 2013. In the program's only season in the American Athletic Conference in 2014, Louisville had a 19-5 league record for sole ownership of the conference title. Overall, the Cardinals have won eight regular season conference titles in 11 seasons under Dan McDonnell.
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 held down the No. 2 ranking for eight weeks from March 27 to May 15.
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 346-97 record (.781 winning percentage), including a impressive 33-4 mark during the 2017 season at the corner of Third and Central. Louisville has won 69 of its last 76 games at Jim Patterson Stadium.
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM CONTINUES FOR LOUISVILLE
As the Louisville baseball team was working towards a third straight ACC Atlantic Division championship, the Cardinals also maintained their impressive work in the classroom registering a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better for the 12th consecutive semester. The notable stretch of academic success has covered six years overall since starting with fall semester in 2011. The span of 12 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.
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
| 2017 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES Location: Omaha, Nebraska Venue: TD Ameritrade Park Omaha TV: ESPN Networks Radio: 93.9 The Ville Twitter Updates: @UofLBaseball Game Notes: Louisville | Media Center Sunday, June 18 | 1 p.m. CT | ESPN Game 3: Louisville vs. Texas A&M Tuesday, June 20 | 1 p.m./6 p.m. CT | ESPN Game 7/8: Louisville vs. Florida/TCU Thursday, June 22 | 7 p.m. CT | ESPN2 Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8 Friday, June 23 | 7 p.m. CT | ESPN Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10 Saturday, June 24 | Time TBD | ESPN Game 13/14: Only if Game 10 Winner also wins Game 12 2017 College World Series Finals (Best of 3 series) June 26-28 | 6 p.m./7 p.m./7 p.m. CT | ESPN |
The Cardinals arrive in Omaha with a 52-10 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the NCAA Championship after sweeping through last weekend's Super Regional against Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville, which set a record for the best start to a season in school history with 19 straight wins, won 12 of its 13 regular season weekend series, including eight series sweeps.
Brendan McKay, the 2017 National Player of the Year, 2017 ACC Player of the Year, three-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and No. 4 selection in the MLB Draft (Tampa Bay Rays), leads the way for the Cardinals ranking second in the nation in total strikeouts as a pitcher while also ranking 21st in the nation in slugging percentage as a hitter. The six-time ACC Pitcher of the Week (four this season) has a 10-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and school record 140 strikeouts while hitting .343 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs. McKay has a 31-10 career record with a 2.15 ERA and 385 strikeouts (school record) to go with a .328 career batting average.
Drew Ellis, a First Team All-American, All-ACC First Team selection and second round selection in the MLB Draft (Arizona Diamondbacks), enters the CWS ranked seventh in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.729) and 10th in home runs (20) to go with a .367 batting average and 18 doubles while splitting time between first base and third base. Shortstop Devin Hairston was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and has just three errors and a .987 fielding percentage while also hitting .306 with a 51 RBIs.
Lincoln Henzman, a Stopper of the Year finalist, First Team All-American, All-ACC First Team honoree, is second nationally with 16 saves to go with a 3-0 record, 1.77 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. All-American reliever Sam Bordner has also been strong out of the pen with a 0.47 ERA, 2-0 record, three saves and 35 strikeouts in 38.2 innings.
NATIONAL SEED FOR THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON, FOURTH TIME OVERALL
Louisville was selected as a national seed for the third straight season and the fourth time in school history. The Cardinals were also a national seed in 2010 (No. 7), 2015 (No. 3) and 2016 (No. 2). Louisville is making its 10th NCAA postseason appearance in the last 11 seasons and the program's 11th NCAA appearance overall. Along with the 2017 NCAA Regional, the Cardinals also hosted the regional round of the NCAA Championship in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 while also hosting NCAA Super Regional series in 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK ACC ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Louisville baseball team continued its impressive run in the Atlantic Coast Conference by winning its third straight Atlantic Division championship in 2017. The Cardinals, who set a single season record for ACC wins in their debut season with a 25-5 mark in 2015, have compiled a 70-19 record in the conference during the last three seasons while only Miami (59 wins) and Virginia (52) have at least 50 wins during that span. Louisville has won 26 of its 30 ACC series and is 28-1 in its series finales during that span, including an 11-1 record in rubber games.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
• Louisville is making its fourth College World Series appearance overall, including the third in the last five seasons. The Cardinals are 1-6 all-time in the CWS.
• Making their 10th NCAA Championship appearance in the last 11 seasons under head coach Dan McDonnell, the Cardinals are 36-21 overall in NCAA postseason games during that span. Louisville is 36-23 all-time in the NCAA Championship going 0-2 in the NCAA Atlanta Regional in 2002.
• The Cardinals were among seven ACC teams in the 2017 NCAA Championship, including five NCAA Regional hosts.
• During his last 13 seasons as a collegiate coach, including his final two seasons as an assistant at Ole Miss in 2005 and 2006, McDonnell has advanced to 12 NCAA Regionals and nine NCAA Super Regionals to go along with four College World Series berths.
• The Cardinals played in their seventh NCAA Super Regional and improved to 9-7 overall in those appearances while winning four of the seven series.
• UofL competed against 10 of the other 63 teams in this year's NCAA Championship field during the regular season going 13-8 against those teams.
• Louisville has never faced Texas A&M or LSU on the baseball diamond. The Cardinals are 5-11 all-time against TCU, 1-4 versus Florida, 1-5 against Cal State Fullerton, 6-24 against Florida State (0-3 this season) and 0-1 versus Oregon State.
• The Cardinals are 27-8 all-time in NCAA postseason games at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville has won six of the seven NCAA Regionals as Patterson Stadium and has a 20-3 record overall in NCAA Regional games at the ballpark, including 15 straight wins.
• Louisville is 7-5 all-time in NCAA Super Regional games at Patterson Stadium having won three of the five series at the ballpark.
• In six career NCAA postseason starts on the mound, Brendan McKay is 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA (10 ER in 41.1 IP), 49 strikeouts and just eight walks.
• At the plate, McKay is hitting .241 (15-for-62) with three home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored in 16 NCAA postseason starts as a hitter.
• In 16 career NCAA Championship starts, Devin Hairston is hitting .362 (21-for-58) with seven doubles, six RBIs and 13 runs scored.
• Entering the 2017 CWS, Logan Taylor is 22-for-52 (.423 average) with one home run (only career home run), four doubles, 16 runs scored and 13 RBI in 21 career NCAA postseason games.
500 CAREER WINS FOR MCDONNELL
With Louisville's series-opening victory at No. 7 Clemson on May 12, 2017, Dan McDonnell earned career win No. 500 as a head coach and all of those came as the leader of the Cardinals. The winningest coach in school history, McDonnell averaged 45.6 wins per season in his first 10 seasons at the helm in Louisville and entered 2017 ranked fifth nationally among active coaches in winning percentage.
LOUISVILLE SWEEPS PAST KENTUCKY IN NCAA SUPER REGIONAL
The fourth College World Series berth in school history for Louisville was clinched after sweeping the first two games of the NCAA Super Regional against rival Kentucky. The Cardinals never trailed against the Wildcats earning a 5-2 win in game one and a 6-2 triumph in game two. Drew Ellis was the star of the weekend as the junior infielder was 4-for-8 with three home runs and six RBI in the two games. School record crowds of 6,237 in game two and 6,235 in game one packed in to Jim Patterson Stadium to watch the Battle of the Bluegrass.
CARDINALS PUSH NCAA REGIONAL WINNING STREAK TO 15 GAMES
Louisville won its fifth straight NCAA Regional while extending its winning streak in NCAA Regional games to 15 after sweeping through Radford (11-6), Oklahoma (11-1) and Xavier (8-7) to open the 2017 NCAA Championship. Josh Stowers paced the offense in the opening weekend of the tournament finishing 6-for-10 at the plate with four doubles, one home run and seven RBI in the three games as Louisville finished with 11 extra-base hits in the NCAA Regional.
TEAM NOTES AND TRENDS
• Louisville has set a school record for single season wins with 52 after previously matching the school record for regular season wins at 46 equaling the total achieved in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
• The Cardinals are third in the nation in ERA, fourth in hits allowed per 9 IP, fourth in WHIP, fifth in shutouts, 11th in strikeouts per 9 IP, 16th in strikeout-to-walk ratio, 17th in stolen bases, 19th in hit-by-pitch, 22nd in scoring and 30th in slugging percentage.
• Louisville has won 26 of its 30 ACC series since joining the league and is 28-1 in its series finales during that span, including an 11-1 record in rubber games.
• The Cardinals have won 14 of their 15 ACC series at home since debuting in the conference.
• The Cardinals have a 49-0 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 57 errors in 62 games for a .975 fielding percentage.
• The Cardinals have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 33 of 62 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 No. 1 in the ACC in ERA and third in the league in team batting average.
• The UofL bullpen has a 2.33 ERA and 23-1 record with 236 strikeouts in 247.0 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .205 overall against the Cardinals relief staff.
• Louisville is 97-of-120 on stolen base attempts this season (17th 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 four College World Series berths, seven NCAA Super Regional appearances, 10 NCAA Regional bids, seven regular season conference championships and two conference tournament titles with 32 All-Americans.
PLAYER NOTES AND TRENDS
• Brendan McKay: 2017 National Player of the Year (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper), John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year... All-ACC First Team as starting pitcher and DH/utility player... Finalist for Dick Howser Trophy... Semifinalist for 2017 Golden Spikes Award... Second in the nation in strikeouts as a pitcher and 21st in NCAA in slugging percentage as a hitter... Has eight or more strikeouts 28 times in collegiate career, including career-high 15 strikeouts in March 10 win over Pitt... In 26 pitching starts at Patterson Stadium, McKay was 20-3 with a 2.08 ERA (40 earned runs in 173.0 IP) and 221 strikeouts... In 31 career pitching appearances at home (including 26 starts), McKay was 21-3 with four saves, a 2.00 ERA (40 earned runs in 180.0 IP) and 228 strikeouts.
• Kade McClure: All-ACC Third Team... Ranks seventh in ACC in strikeouts... Has 21-4 career record... 102 strikeouts in 2017 are 10th most in a season at Louisville... Had season-high 10 strikeouts on April 8... Won 12 of 13 starts in 2016 and was tied for fifth in NCAA in wins... Was also in top 10 in WHIP and hits allowed per 9 IP while earning All-America honors last season.
• Nick Bennett: Freshman All-American... All-ACC Third Team... Has 5-0 record in 12 collegiate starts... Ranks fifth in ACC in WHIP and ninth in ERA... Twirled career-best seven scoreless innings in April 23 win over Duke... Allowed one hit and registered seven strikeouts while facing minimum of 18 batters for first career victory in first ever start against Eastern Michigan March 3.
• Lincoln Henzman: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper First Team All-America... NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist... All-ACC First Team... Ranks No. 2 in the nation with 16 saves... Opened 2017 with 13.1 consecutive innings of scoreless relief... 19 career saves tied for third all-time at Louisville.
• Drew Ellis: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper First Team All-America... All-ACC First Team... Semifinalist for 2017 Golden Spikes Award... Named National Player of the Month for April by NCBWA... Seventh in NCAA in slugging and 10th in home runs... No. 1 in ACC in slugging, second in average and home runs and fourth in on-base percentage... Had 32 starts last season... .345 career batting average.
• Devin Hairston: ACC Defensive Player of the Year... All-ACC Third Team... Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award (nation's top shortstop)... Third on team with 51 RBIs to go with 12 multi-RBI games... Just three errors in 233 chances (.987%) while starting all 62 games at shortstop... Career-best five RBIs in three-hit game vs. Fort Wayne on March 8... Earned All-America and All-ACC honors in 2016... 182 career starts.
• Logan Taylor: .389 average with eight runs scored in five NCAA Championship games in 2017... Has hit in the leadoff spot in the lineup in 54 of 55 starts this season... Third in ACC in stolen bases... Has reached base safely in 50 of 55 starts... Played in 235 career games with 136 starts... One of three team captains in 2017.
• Colby Fitch: All-ACC Second Team... Selected as ACC Player of the Week on May 15 after hitting .500 with three home runs and five RBIs from May 9-14... Has 16 multi-hit games this season... Has started 46 of 62 games at catcher while starting another 13 games at designated hitter... Hit four of five home runs, 22 of 25 RBIs in his 27 starts last season.
• Devin Mann: Matched career-high with three hits versus Miami (Ohio) on May 2... Has reached base safely in 30 of last 33 games and 51 of 61 starts this season... Hit .307 with eight doubles, 16 RBIs and 13 runs in 19 starts last season.
• Josh Stowers: Ranks third in ACC in stolen bases... Delivered career-best four hits in May 25 win over Notre Dame... Had career highs with two home runs, four RBIs in April 28 win over Toledo... 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 RBIs 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... 219 career appearances.
MCKAY EARNS TWO NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS; ELLIS, HENZMAN EARN FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Brendan McKay was named as the 2017 National Player of the Year by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper, while junior infielder Drew Ellis and junior righthander Lincoln Henzman were tabbed as First Team All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. McKay, who is also a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, is the first Louisville baseball player to earn a national player of the year award. The Darlington, Pennsylvania native was also a First Team All-American selection as a utility player. The All-America honors are the first both Ellis and Henzman, who were also second team selections by Baseball America.
MCKAY WINS THIRD STRAIGHT JOHN OLERUD AWARD
Having already set the standard as the only two-time winner of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016, Brendan McKay took it to another level on June 12 earning the honor for a third consecutive season as the 2017 recipient. McKay has separated himself in 2017 as not only the best two-way player in the country, but as the nation's top collegiate baseball player overall having already received a pair of National Player of the Year honors from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Serving as the ace in the starting pitching rotation for No. 7 Louisville, McKay is also the cleanup hitter for the Cardinals.
ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO MCKAY, HAIRSTON TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER, MCDONNELL EARNS THIRD STRAIGHT COACH OF THE YEAR
Junior two-way standout Brendan McKay was named 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, junior shortstop Devin Hairston received the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year honor and Dan McDonnell earned his third straight Coach of the Year award. The announcement marked the third straight season the Cardinals have received at least two of the ACC's major individual honors and it is the ninth time in the last 11 seasons Louisville has claimed a conference Player or Pitcher of the Year award.
McKay adds the prestigious Player of the Year honor to his 2015 Freshman of the Year award while also being tabbed as an All-ACC First Team selection as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter/utility player. McDonnell becomes the first skipper in ACC history to receive three consecutive Coach of the Year honors.
Along with the three major award winners, Louisville had four All-ACC First Team honorees as junior third baseman Drew Ellis and junior righthanded reliever Lincoln Henzman accompanied McKay's two selections. Junior catcher Colby Fitch was named All-ACC Second Team, while freshman lefthanded starter Nick Bennett, Hairston and junior righty starter Kade McClure were All-ACC Third Team members. Bennett was also named to the All-Freshman Team.
HENZMAN NAMED FINALIST FOR STOPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Junior righthander Lincoln Henzman was named June 7 as a finalist for the 13th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. Henzman was among five finalists for the award joining Florida's Michael Byrne, Josh Hiatt of North Carolina, Colton Hock of Stanford and Oregon's Kenyon Yovan. The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Saturday morning, June 17, at a news conference at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 10 a.m. CT. Previous winners of the award include former Cardinals standout and 2014 recipient Nick Burdi.
BENNETT EARNS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN HONOR FROM COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER
Lefthanded pitcher Nick Bennett was selected as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Bennett accumulated a 5-0 record with a 2.70 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 63.1 innings and 14 total appearances, including 12 starts. A native of Cincinnati, Bennett was an All-ACC Third Team selection and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team while serving as the No. 3 starter in the weekend rotation for the ACC Atlantic Division champions. Bennett enters this week's NCAA Super Regional ranking fifth in the ACC in WHIP and ninth in ERA.
ELLIS, MCKAY NAMED GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Juniors Drew Ellis and Brendan McKay were named May 31 among 25 semifinalists for the 40th USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award is given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States and is presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation.
McKay was chosen as a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist for the third time in as many collegiate seasons, while Ellis is a first-time semifinalist for the prestigious honor. Louisville, Oregon State and Virginia are the only schools with multiple Golden Spikes Award semifinalists in 2017 with two each. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads 10 different NCAA conferences represented on the list with six semifinalists.
USA Baseball officials will announce the finalists for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award on Wednesday, June 14. To select the finalists, the list of semifinalists is sent to a voting body consisting of past Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel, and select current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total. As part of the selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of semifinalists. Voting will be open until Friday, June 9.
HAIRSTON SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR BROOKS WALLACE AWARD
Devin Hairston was named among five finalists for the 2017 Brooks Wallace Award by the College Baseball Foundation. The award honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented this summer by the College Baseball Foundation. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Hairston, a finalist for the second consecutive season, is joined by Jeremy Eierman from Missouri State, Orlando Garcia from Texas Tech, Zach Rutherford from Old Dominion and Logan Warmoth from North Carolina.
ELLIS, MCKAY NAMED DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Junior tandem Drew Ellis and Brendan McKay were named May 18 among 25 semifinalists for the 2017 Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually to the top player in collegiate baseball. This is the 31st year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 9 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The 2017 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 16 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2017 CWS.
LOUISVILLE REACHES 50 WINS FOUR TIMES IN FIVE SEASONS; SIX CONSECUTIVE 40-WIN SEASONS FOR THE CARDINALS
Louisville has reached the 50-win plateau for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the Cardinals have won 40 or more games in 10 of head coach Dan McDonnell's 11 seasons, including each of the last six. Prior to McDonnell's arrival in Louisville, the Cardinals had never reached 40 wins in a season while the single season school record for victories was 39 in 2002. Louisville's current school record for single season wins is 51 in 2013.
SIX STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLES IN THREE DIFFERENT LEAGUES
On May 13, 2017, Louisville clinched its third consecutive ACC Atlantic Division championship marking the program's sixth straight regular season conference title in three different leagues. Last season, Louisville won the ACC Atlantic with a 22-8 record, while in 2015, the Cardinals set an ACC record for regular season wins finishing 25-5 to win the Atlantic in their debut season. After finishing with an 18-9 record and sharing the 2012 Big East title with St. John's, the Cardinals stood alone as champions in their final season in the league in 2013. In the program's only season in the American Athletic Conference in 2014, Louisville had a 19-5 league record for sole ownership of the conference title. Overall, the Cardinals have won eight regular season conference titles in 11 seasons under Dan McDonnell.
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 held down the No. 2 ranking for eight weeks from March 27 to May 15.
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 346-97 record (.781 winning percentage), including a impressive 33-4 mark during the 2017 season at the corner of Third and Central. Louisville has won 69 of its last 76 games at Jim Patterson Stadium.
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM CONTINUES FOR LOUISVILLE
As the Louisville baseball team was working towards a third straight ACC Atlantic Division championship, the Cardinals also maintained their impressive work in the classroom registering a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better for the 12th consecutive semester. The notable stretch of academic success has covered six years overall since starting with fall semester in 2011. The span of 12 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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