Stowers Paces No. 24 Louisville in 5-4 Win Against WKU

Tuesday, April 24

LOUISVILLE, KY

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

27-13

WESTERN KENTUCKY

19-21

WKU

Louisville

Josh Stowers has reached base safely in 23 straight games after Tuesday's outing versus WKU.

Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics

Stowers Paces No. 24 Louisville in 5-4 Win Against WKU

April 24, 2018 | Baseball

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Stowers reaches base three times, drives in two runs and scores twice for the Cardinals

By: Garett Wall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Josh Stowers reached base three times and drove in two runs to pace the No. 24 Louisville baseball team in a 5-4 win over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.

A junior from Westchester, Illinois, Stowers was 1-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases and scored twice to go with his two RBIs as the Cardinals (27-13) overcame an early 3-0 deficit to complete a two-game season sweep of the Hilltoppers (19-21). Stowers has reached base safely in 23 straight games, including nine consecutive games with a hit. The outfielder ranks among the top 10 in the nation with his 25 stolen bases on 27 attempts this season.

Tyler Fitzgerald pushed his career-best hitting streak to 13 games after going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and one stolen base, while Jake Snider was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Justin Lavey and Pat Rumoro singled and had one RBI each, while Danny Oriente extended his career-long hitting streak to 14 games with a 1-for-3 night at the plate.

On the mound, junior righthander Bryan Hoeing worked 4.2 inning of relief surrendering only an unearned run on two hits to register the win and move to 5-1 on the season. Sophomore righty Shay Smiddy retired all five batters he faced, including four by strikeout, to close the game for his second save of the season.

The Hilltoppers opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first inning. Tyler Robertson drove in the first run with a RBI sacrifice fly to score Steven Kraft. Ray Zuberber III followed with a RBI single to right field before a bases loaded walk to Jake Ryan later in the inning sent Colie Currie home for the third run.

The Cardinals answered with their own three-spot in the bottom of the first. Stowers drove in the first two runs for Louisville with his two-out single to left field plating Fitzgerald and Snider. Following the single, Stowers stole second and third before scoring the tying run on a wild pitch by Troy Newell.

Louisville gained its first lead of the game at 4-3 in the third inning on Lavey's two-out RBI single. Stowers earned a leadoff walk, moved to second on a single by Oriente and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring the go-ahead run on Lavey's single up the middle.

After WKU evened the score with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Rumoro. Lucas Dunn led off the inning with a single up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a sacrifice bunt by Lavey before scoring on Rumoro's flyout to center field for the final 5-4 margin.

Following the run the fifth inning, four Louisville pitchers combined for the final 12 outs of the game without allowing a run. Senior lefty Rabon Martin worked a scoreless sixth inning, graduate righty Austin Conway pitched the seventh without surrendering a hit and sophomore righty Michael McAvene recorded an out in the eighth before Smiddy finished the game.

Up next, No. 24 Louisville hosts non-conference foe Indiana State for a weekend series at Jim Patterson Stadium starting Friday at 6 p.m., ET with the annual Patriotic Game. The Cardinals and Sycamores will also play Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.

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

2018 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL TICKETS
Single game tickets for the 2018 University of Louisville baseball season 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.