Stowers’ Ninth Inning Home Run Lifts No. 21 Baseball at Virginia Tech

Friday, April 13

Blacksburg, VA

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

22-11, 7-9

Virginia Tech

15-18, 6-10

Louisville

Virginia Tech

Josh Stowers had his third home run of the season in Friday's win at Virginia Tech.

Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics

Stowers’ Ninth Inning Home Run Lifts No. 21 Baseball at Virginia Tech

April 13, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Cardinals plate runs in the eighth and ninth innings for series-opening win against Hokies

By: Garett Wall

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Josh Stowers' ninth inning solo home run propelled the No. 21 Louisville baseball team to a 3-2 series-opening road victory over Virginia Tech on Friday night at English Field at Union Park.

After the Cardinals (22-11, 7-9 ACC) had scored the game-tying run in the eighth inning, Stowers provided the clincher an inning later when the sophomore turned on the first offering of the at-bat from Connor Coward sending it over the wall in left center. The home run was the third of the season for Stowers, who also reached base with a walk in the win.

Danny Oriente extended his career-best hitting streak to seven games after the sophomore equaled a personal best for his finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and one stolen base. Tyler Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 with a double and scored once for Louisville.

On the mound, righthander Shay Smiddy had three strikeouts and allowed just one hit in two shutout innings of relief to earn the win and move to 3-1 on the season. Righty Sam Bordner had two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning to register his ninth save of the season. Lefty starter Adam Wolf did not figure into the decision despite delivering another strong start as the junior had eight strikeouts and allowed just two runs in six innings. Wolf has surrendered two or fewer earned runs in seven of his nine starts this season.

The Cardinals opened the scoring with a run in the first inning on a two-out RBI single from Logan Wyatt to score Fitzgerald. The inning started with a leadoff single from Fitzgerald, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a wild pitch by Connor Coward before scoring when Wyatt sent a 3-1 pitch up the middle for the 1-0 lead.

The Hokies (15-18, 6-10 ACC) scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Jack Owens delivered a two-out RBI single through the left side for the first run and Tom Stoffel followed with a RBI single through the left side for the go-ahead run.

Louisville started its late comeback evening the score at 2-2 with an unearned run in the eighth inning. Oriente started the inning with an infield single before moving to third on a double by Fitzgerald. Moments later, Oriente scored the tying run on a two-out error by third baseman Sam Fragale on a groundball off the bat of Jake Snider.

Coward took the loss for Virginia Tech and dropped to 2-4 on the season after allowing three runs, including two earned, on seven hits with 11 strikeouts in 8.2 innings. Stoffel was 3-for-5 with one RBI and Owens finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.

The Cardinals and Hokies will conclude their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one is set for 1 p.m., ET, while game two is slated for a 7 p.m., start.

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.