Cardinals Ranked 14th in Baseball Writers Preseason Poll
February 06, 2018 | Baseball
Louisville ranked in all six major preseason polls, including 13th in USA Today Top 25
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville baseball team added its sixth and final preseason ranking for 2018 on Tuesday as the Cardinals were tabbed at No. 14 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.
The NCBWA ranking is Louisville's second highest of the preseason behind only the No. 13 ranking in the USA Today Sports Top 25 preseason coaches poll. The Cardinals are also ranked 14th in the Perfect Game Top 25, No. 15 by D1Baseball, No. 19 in the Baseball America Top 25 and 21st in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.
Louisville has remained ranked in at least one major national poll every week since the release of the 2012 preseason rankings -- the longest such stretch in school history. The 11 consecutive years (2008-2018) with a preseason national ranking is also a school record streak for the Cardinals.
Atop the NCBWA poll is reigning NCAA champion Florida, while No. 2 Oregon State, No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 TCU round out the top five. Louisville is among eight ACC programs in the NCBWA poll joining No. 4 FSU, No. 7 North Carolina, No. 18 Virginia, No. 19 Clemson, No. 26 Miami, No. 28 NC State and No. 31 Duke.
The Cardinals enter the 2018 season having advanced to an NCAA Super Regional in five straight seasons, the nation's longest active streak. Louisville closed its 2017 season ranked fifth in every major national poll after advancing to the College World Series for the fourth time in school history, setting a school record for wins with a 53-12 mark and earning the program's third straight ACC Atlantic Division championship.
The No. 13 Cardinals will open the 2018 season on Friday, Feb. 16 at noon ET against Richmond in the first of three games at the Charleston Crab House Challenge in Charleston, South Carolina. Louisville will also play The Citadel on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m., and George Mason on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. The 2018 home-opener at Jim Patterson Stadium for the Cardinals is set for Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m., ET against Eastern Kentucky.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
2018 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS
Full-Season Packages
Reserved chairback ticket packages are priced at $150 for adults (less than $4.50 per game), $120 for senior adults/youth (less than $4 per game) and $480 for a Family 4-Pack (less than $4 per game per ticket). Season tickets for the Left Field Berm are also available at $100 for adults (less than $3 per game), $80 for senior adults/youth (less than $2.50 per game) and $320 for a Family 4-Pack (less than $2.50 per game per ticket).
Season ticket packages include all regular season home games at Jim Patterson Stadium with the exception of the annual Elementary School Day game, played each March during a weekday afternoon. For Elementary School Day, season tickets provide admission to the game but do not include a reserved seat. Single game tickets for the 2018 season will be priced at $10 for reserved chairback and $5 for berm and will be available for purchase at a later date.
All 2018 Louisville baseball season ticket packages are also on sale now and can be purchased online at GoCards.com/bsbtickets, by calling 502-GO-CARDS or by visiting the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office, located near Gate 2 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (2800 South Floyd Street) on weekdays from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m.
15-Game Flex Plan
The 15-Game Flex Plan includes 15 berm tickets which can be used for any Louisville baseball home game against any opponent. Ticket holders have the flexibility of using each of the tickets at 15 different games or any number of the 15 tickets on a single game. The 15-Game Flex Plan is priced at $60 and is the perfect mini plan for fans looking for adaptability with their tickets and schedule.
Friday Mini Plan
The Friday Package includes one reserved chairback ticket to each of Louisville's eight Friday home games and is priced at $64. Friday night's in college baseball are typically the opening game in a three-game weekend series and are pivotal in the success of a team. Six of the Cardinals' Friday games will be played under the lights at Jim Patterson Stadium adding an additional element to the electric atmosphere at the corner of Third and Central. Friday's at Jim Patterson Stadium also feature drink specials throughout the evening.
Sunday Mini Plan
The Sunday Package includes one reserved chairback ticket to each of Louisville's seven Sunday home games and is priced at $56. Each weekend series this season is slated to conclude with a Sunday afternoon tilt allowing fans to enjoy the sunshine and cheer for the Cardinals. Sunday's at Jim Patterson Stadium are also designated as Family Fun Day featuring family entertainment, concession specials and on-field activities for kids following the game.
Â
