Bennett, Oriente Lead Cardinals in Victorious Finale at FSU

Saturday, March 31

Tallahassee, FL

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

19-8, 5-7

Florida State

22-7, 7-5

Louisville

Florida State

Nick Bennett won his second straight start with Saturday's victory at Florida State.

Bennett, Oriente Lead Cardinals in Victorious Finale at FSU

March 31, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bennett earns win with seven quality innings on the mound; Oriente goes 3-for-4 with two RBIs

By: Garett Wall

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Lefthander Nick Bennett twirled seven strong innings and Danny Oriente had three hits and two RBIs as the No.10 Louisville baseball team closed its weekend series at No.5 Florida State with a 6-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.

A sophomore from Cincinnati, Bennett had six strikeouts and allowed just one run on four hits to win his second straight start and move to 3-0 on the season. The seven innings matched the longest outing of Bennett's collegiate career equaling his outing against Duke on April 23, 2017. Sophomore lefty Adam Elliott recorded the final out of the game with a bases loaded strikeout for his first career save.

Oriente recorded a career high in hits finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored once to go with his two runs driven in. Logan Wyatt reached base safely for the 24th straight game as the sophomore singled, drove in two runs and scored once. Junior Josh Stowers earned four walks, had two stolen bases and scored once.

The Cardinals (19-8, 5-7 ACC) kicked off the scoring on Saturday with a run in the first inning when Stowers scored on a RBI groundout off the bat of Wyatt. Stowers led off the game with a walk, advanced to second with his first stolen base of the game and took third on a groundout to the right side before scoring on Wyatt's groundball to the third baseman.

Louisville added to the advantage with a run in the second inning as Oriente scored from third on a groundball double-play. Oriente started the inning with a single up the middle and moved to third on a single by junior Pat Rumoro before scoring on the groundout.

The lead for the Cardinals increased to 5-0 after a three-run third inning. Wyatt started the scoring with his two-out RBI single through the left side to send sophomore Jake Snider home. Later in the inning, Oriente connected on a two-run double down the right field line to score Wyatt and sophomore Drew Campbell.

The teams exchanged runs in the fourth inning. Louisville plated its sixth run of the game with a double steal as Stowers swiped second before sophomore Justin Lavey stole home after the Seminoles (22-7, 7-5 ACC) threw down to second. FSU plated its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on Cal Raleigh's RBI sacrifice fly to right field.

Up next, Louisville will visit Kentucky on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., ET for the first round of the annual Battle of the Bluegrass.

Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter at @UofLBaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.

2018 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL TICKETS
Season ticket packages as well as single game tickets for the 2018 University of Louisville baseball season are on sale now and can be purchased online at GoCards.com/bsbtickets, by phone at 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., ET.