Virginia Evens Weekend Series with No. 20 Baseball

Saturday, April 21

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

26-12, 10-10

VIRGINIA

23-17, 8-12

Virginia

Louisville

Devin Mann slides into second during Saturday's game at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Photo by: Jermaine Bibb | Louisville Athletics

April 21, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights Video: Dan McDonnell Postgame Photo Gallery

Cavaliers use three-run sixth inning to edge Cardinals; Louisville honors Todd Esser during Saturday’s game

By: Garett Wall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The visiting Virginia Cavaliers scored three runs in the decisive sixth inning of Saturday afternoon's 5-4 win over the No. 20 Louisville baseball team at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Cavaliers (23-17, 8-12 ACC) overcame a 4-1 deficit after three innings to even the three-game series with the Cardinals (26-12, 10-10 ACC), who won Friday's series-opener by the same 5-4 margin. The teams will return to Jim Patterson Stadium for the deciding game of the weekend set on Sunday at 1 p.m., ET.

Devin Mann doubled, walked, stole two bases and scored once for Louisville, which had its six-game winning streak halted with Saturday's loss. Danny Oriente was 2-for-3 at the plate to extend his career-best 12-game hitting streak, while Tyler Fitzgerald pushed his personal best hitting streak to 11 games with a single and a run scored. Ethan Stringer added a two-run single, and Josh Stowers reached base safely for the 21st straight game with his RBI single.

On the mound, sophomore lefthander Nick Bennett suffered his first loss of the season dropping to 4-1 overall after allowing four earned runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. Junior Riley Thompson kept the Cardinals close as the righty had two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of shutout relief.

The Cardinals started fast Saturday scoring a pair of runs in the first inning against Virginia lefty Daniel Lynch. Fitzgerald led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Mann before scoring on Logan Wyatt's RBI single to center. Josh Stowers followed with a RBI bunt single to send Mann home for the 2-0 lead.

After the Cavaliers plated an unearned run in the second inning, Louisville pushed the margin to 4-1 in the third inning on a two-out, two-run single to center from Stringer. Wyatt coaxed a two-out walk before moving to second following an error by Virginia on a groundball off the bat of Stowers. Oriente singled to load the bases before Stringer singled to center scoring both Wyatt and Stowers.

Virginia narrowed the difference to 4-2 in the fourth inning after Cameron Comer scored from third on a RBI groundout by Devin Ortiz. Comer earned a one-out walk and moved to third on a double down the right field line by Charlie Cody before scoring on the Ortiz groundball to second.

The Cavaliers garnered the lead thanks to their pivotal three-run sixth inning. Cayman Richardson pulled Virginia even with his two-run single sending both Cody and Ortiz home. Moments later, Andy Weber gave UVA a 5-4 lead with his RBI single to center.

Lynch bounced back from the tough first inning to earn the win and move to 3-3 on the season after allowing four runs, including two unearned, on nine hits with four strikeouts in 7.0+ innings. Lefty Bennett Sousa recorded six strikeouts and surrendered just one walk and no hits in 2.0 innings to register his fourth save of the season.

Sunday's series finale between the Cardinals and Cavaliers will be televised on ACC Network Extra.

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

TODD ESSER DAY AT PATTERSON STADIUM
The Louisville baseball team used Saturday's game at Jim Patterson Stadium to honor supporter and friend of the program, Todd Esser, who passed away last summer. Prior to the game, members of the Esser family were recognized on the field while Fritz Esser, Todd's father, delivered a ceremonial first pitch. During the middle of the third inning, the Louisville baseball team unveiled a plaque behind the Cardinals dugout on the first base side of the ballpark paying tribute to "Todd's Seat" at Jim Patterson Stadium.

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.