Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics
Snider’s Saints Claim Opening Game of Pizza Bowl
October 14, 2019 | Baseball
The annual Pizza Bowl series continues on Wednesday at 3 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball program's 14th annual Pizza Bowl series got underway Monday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Snider's Saints, led by assistant coach Eric Snider, captured the opening game of the series 6-2 behind a strong pitching performance from senior Luke Smith and four runs over the final three innings.
Smith held Vrable's Ravens scoreless over the first five innings before allowing his only run of the day in the sixth. The righthander allowed just the one run on four hits over 5.1 innings.
The Saints jumped on the board in the top of the first behind leadoff walks to Lucas Dunn and Levi Usher. Cameron Masterman drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and a passed ball cashed in the second tally.
Smith exited with the 2-0 lead following a single from Chris Seng, but the lead was quickly gone after Dalton Rushing cleared the wall in right for a two-out, two-run home run.
Snider's Saints went right back to work in the seventh though, surging back in front on Blayne Robinson's two-run single and tacking on two more in the eighth to secure the victory.
Evan Webster picked up the win, allowing a run in his inning of work. Ryan Hawks and Adam Elliott each turned in scoreless outings in relief. Tate Kuehner and Carter Lohman made scoreless appearances as well for the Ravens.
Henry Davis, Ben Metzinger and Rushing led the way offensively with two hits apiece.
The series continues with game two on Wednesday at 3 p.m., ET before a Friday night under the lights starting at 6 p.m., ET. Games four and five will wrap up the Pizza Bowl on Oct. 21 and Oct. 23, respectively, with first pitch set for 3 p.m., ET each day.
Batting practice will begin approximately 75 minutes prior to first pitch each day and admission is free for all Pizza Bowl games.
ABOUT THE PIZZA BOWL
Upon his hiring as Louisville head coach in the summer of 2006, Dan McDonnell immediately created an atmosphere of competition throughout the Cardinals baseball program. Whether it's through conditioning in the Omaha Challenge, or in preseason scrimmages, McDonnell creates competitive situations to give his players numerous opportunities to prepare for what they will see during conference and postseason games.
One of the most effective ways McDonnell and his coaching staff can provide the Louisville players with those competitive, game-like situations is through the annual Pizza Bowl series. Following approximately six weeks of fall practice sessions, the Cardinals take to the field for what started as a one-game scrimmage in the fall of 2006 and has become an ultra-competitive three-game or five-game intra-squad series. The winning team is rewarded by being served as much pizza as it would like by the losing squad, which in turn shares what is left. The Pizza Bowl series has become an exciting and highly anticipated ending to the fall for Louisville coaches, players and fans.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Snider's Saints, led by assistant coach Eric Snider, captured the opening game of the series 6-2 behind a strong pitching performance from senior Luke Smith and four runs over the final three innings.
Smith held Vrable's Ravens scoreless over the first five innings before allowing his only run of the day in the sixth. The righthander allowed just the one run on four hits over 5.1 innings.
The Saints jumped on the board in the top of the first behind leadoff walks to Lucas Dunn and Levi Usher. Cameron Masterman drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and a passed ball cashed in the second tally.
Smith exited with the 2-0 lead following a single from Chris Seng, but the lead was quickly gone after Dalton Rushing cleared the wall in right for a two-out, two-run home run.
Snider's Saints went right back to work in the seventh though, surging back in front on Blayne Robinson's two-run single and tacking on two more in the eighth to secure the victory.
Evan Webster picked up the win, allowing a run in his inning of work. Ryan Hawks and Adam Elliott each turned in scoreless outings in relief. Tate Kuehner and Carter Lohman made scoreless appearances as well for the Ravens.
Henry Davis, Ben Metzinger and Rushing led the way offensively with two hits apiece.
The series continues with game two on Wednesday at 3 p.m., ET before a Friday night under the lights starting at 6 p.m., ET. Games four and five will wrap up the Pizza Bowl on Oct. 21 and Oct. 23, respectively, with first pitch set for 3 p.m., ET each day.
Batting practice will begin approximately 75 minutes prior to first pitch each day and admission is free for all Pizza Bowl games.
ABOUT THE PIZZA BOWL
Upon his hiring as Louisville head coach in the summer of 2006, Dan McDonnell immediately created an atmosphere of competition throughout the Cardinals baseball program. Whether it's through conditioning in the Omaha Challenge, or in preseason scrimmages, McDonnell creates competitive situations to give his players numerous opportunities to prepare for what they will see during conference and postseason games.
One of the most effective ways McDonnell and his coaching staff can provide the Louisville players with those competitive, game-like situations is through the annual Pizza Bowl series. Following approximately six weeks of fall practice sessions, the Cardinals take to the field for what started as a one-game scrimmage in the fall of 2006 and has become an ultra-competitive three-game or five-game intra-squad series. The winning team is rewarded by being served as much pizza as it would like by the losing squad, which in turn shares what is left. The Pizza Bowl series has become an exciting and highly anticipated ending to the fall for Louisville coaches, players and fans.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
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