University of Louisville
39-16, 17-12
NOTRE DAME
24-27, 12-17
Bennett Shines as No. 25 Cardinals Shut Out Notre Dame
May 18, 2018 | Baseball
Bennett matches career highs with eight strikeouts in eight scoreless innings to move 7-1
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lefthander Nick Bennett had eight strikeouts in eight shutout innings to lead the No. 25 Louisville baseball team to a 5-0 series-clinching win over Notre Dame on Friday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Bennett equaled his career high totals in both strikeouts and innings pitched as the Cardinals (39-16. 17-12 ACC) registered their fourth straight series victory overall and their 15th consecutive win against the Fighting Irish (24-27, 12-17 ACC). Bennett, who scattered six hits and issued just one walk, equaled his strikeout total achieved versus NC State on April 7 while the eight innings matched his outing against Virginia Tech on April 14. The Cincinnati native moved to 7-1 on the season and 12-2 in his collegiate career with Friday's win.
Sophomore righty Shay Smiddy worked the ninth inning to complete Louisville's second shutout of the season. Bennett and Smiddy combined to hold Notre Dame without an extra base hit in Friday's game.
Four different Cardinals had at least two hits as junior Josh Stowers was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored while reaching base safely for the 38th straight game. Stowers has hit safely in eight straight games with six of those featuring two or more hits. Devin Mann finished 3-for-4 with a double, while Tyler Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored. Jake Snider added two hits and drove in a run as Louisville out-hit Notre Dame 13-7.
The Cardinals opened the scoring with a run in the third inning on a two-out RBI single from Snider. Fitzgerald started the two-out rally with his double down the left field line before Snider sent a 1-2 pitch from Cameron Brown through the left side for the 1-0 lead.
Louisville increased its margin to 2-0 in the fifth inning after Justin Lavey scored from third on a groundball off the bat of Snider. Lavey started the inning with a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fitzgerald and took third on a throwing error by the Irish before scoring on a double play groundball.
The lead moved to 4-0 in the sixth inning after Stowers scored on a wild pitch and Danny Oriente was driven home on a RBI single by Ethan Stringer. Stowers started the inning with a double to left center and moved to third on an error by Notre Dame first baseman Daniel Jung before going home on the wild pitch from Brown. Oriente reached base and advanced to second on Jung's error and then took third on the wild pitch before scoring on Stringer's base hit to left field.t
Louisville added its final run of the game in the eighth inning on a RBI single to left from Fitzgerald. Lucas Dunn singled with two outs to start things and moved to second when Lavey was hit by a pitch before scoring on the base hit to left.
The Cardinals and Fighting Irish will conclude their series on Saturday at 1 p.m., ET in the regular season finale for both teams.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter at @UofLBaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bennett, Nick (7-1)
L: Cameron Brown (2-1)
Batting:
SH: Cole Daily 1
Base Running:
SB: Matt Vierling 1
Batting:
2B: Fitzgerald, Tyler 1 ; Mann, Devin 1 ; Stowers, Josh 1
RBI: Fitzgerald, Tyler 1 ; Snider, Jake 1 ; Stringer, Ethan 1
SH: Fitzgerald, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fitzgerald, Tyler 1 ; Stowers, Josh 1 ; Oriente, Danny 1 ; Dunn, Lucas 1 ; Lavey, Justin 1
CS: Snider, Jake 1 ; Stowers, Josh 1
HBP: Lavey, Justin 1
PO: Snider, Jake 1 ; Stowers, Josh 1
