No.4 Wolfpack Rallies Late to Even Series with No.11 Cardinals

Saturday, April 7

LOUISVILLE, KY

2:00 PM

University of Louisville

20-10, 6-8

NC STATE

24-6, 10-4

NC State

Louisville

Josh Stowers had two hits, two walks, three stolen bases and scored twice in Saturday's game.

Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics

No.4 Wolfpack Rallies Late to Even Series with No.11 Cardinals

April 07, 2018 | Baseball

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NC State scores four runs in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 9-6 win over Louisville

By: Garett Wall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - No.4 NC State scored four runs in the ninth inning to complete a 9-6 comeback win against the No.11 Louisville baseball team on Saturday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Wolfpack (24-6, 10-4 ACC) plated the final six runs of the game to overcome a 6-3 deficit and even the weekend series with the Cardinals (20-10, 6-8 ACC). The teams will conclude the series with Sunday's rubber game at 1 p.m., ET.

The decisive ninth inning started with back-to-back infield singles by Stephen Pitarra and Josh McLain before Will Wilson loaded the bases with his single to right field off Louisville junior righthander Sam Bordner. Brett Kinneman followed by sending all three runners home with his bases clearing double to right field to push the Wolfpack ahead for good. Later in the inning, Kinneman scored on Evan Edwards' RBI single through the right side.

Bordner suffered his second loss of the season and dropped to 1-2 overall after allowing four runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of relief. NC State's Kent Klyman earned the win and moved to 3-0 overall after surrendering just one run on two hits in 3.2 innings of relief.

Sophomore lefthander Nick Bennett did not figure into the decision after the Louisville starter had a career-high eight strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs on four hits in six innings. At the plate, junior Josh Stowers had two singles, two walks, three stolen bases and scored two runs, while junior Devin Mann was 2-for-4 with a walk and one run scored. Sophomore Danny Oriente chipped in with a two-run single and scored once.

After the Wolfpack gained a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on Oriente's two-out, two-run single. Mann singled and Stowers reached base with a two-out walk before both players advanced with stolen bases. Oriente followed by sending a 3-2 pitch from Brian Brown into right center for the 2-1 advantage.

Louisville added to the lead with a run in the fifth inning on Tyler Fitzgerald's RBI single to score Ethan Stringer. The inning started with a double to left center from Stringer, who moved to third on a Justin Lavey's sacrifice bunt before scoring on the single up the middle by Fitzgerald.

NC State evened the score at 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning on Patrick Bailey's two-out, two-run homer. Following a two-out walk to Kinneman, Bailey sent a 1-2 pitch down the right field line and over the wall for his fourth home run of the season.

The Cardinals regained the lead with a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stowers singled and stole second before scoring the go-ahead run on Drew Campbell's pinch hit RBI double to right center. Lavey followed with a two-run double to right center scoring Oriente and Campbell for the 6-3 margin.

The Wolfpack started their final comeback with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning. The Cardinals surrendered three unearned runs in the game while committing three errors overall.

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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.