Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Host Valparaiso for Three, Friday Game Time Changed
February 20, 2020 | Baseball
The weekend series now begins on Friday at 2 p.m. ET at Jim Patterson Stadium.
GAME DAY INFORMATION #1 Louisville vs. Valparaiso Location: Louisville, Ky. Venue: Jim Patterson Stadium (4,000) Twitter Updates: @LouisvilleBSB Game Notes: Louisville | Valparaiso Friday, February 21 | 2:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACCNX | Radio: 1450 WXVW LOU: Jr. LHP Reid Detmers (2020: 1-0, 1.80 ERA) VU: Sr. RHP Ethan Rhodehouse (2020: 1-1, 2.08 ERA) Saturday, February 22 | 1:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACCNX | Radio: 93.9 The Ville LOU: Jr. RHP Bobby Miller (2020: 0-0, 6.75 ERA) VU: So. RHP Colin Fields (2020: 0-1, 3.60 ERA) Sunday, February 23 | 1:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats TV: ACCNX | Radio: 93.9 The Ville LOU: Sr. RHP Luke Smith (2020: 0-0, 5.40 ERA) VU: So. RHP Zach Fricke (2020: 0-0, 4.50 ERA) |
PROMOTIONS
- Friday – Budweiser Two Buck Night
- Saturday – CWS Commemorative Mini Bat Giveaway & BBQ on the Berm
- Sunday – Family Fun Day
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
The Cardinals suffered a 10-3 setback in their 2020 home opener on Wednesday against Wright State. Louisville is riding its first three-game losing streak since May 16-19, 2017 when it lost at Indiana and twice at home to Florida State.
UofL is off to a 1-3 start to the 2020 season for just the second time in Dan McDonnell's tenure. The Cardinals started 0-3 in 2009 before reeling off 10 victories in their next 11 games and finishing the season with a 47-18 mark and reaching the super regionals.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville and Valparaiso have met three times previously, but the two programs have not played since 1996. The Crusaders hold a 2-1 edge in three all-time meetings, winning the last two in 1994 and 1996. This will mark the first series between the two clubs.
TEAM NOTES
- Louisville has an .852 winning percentage (92-16) in non-conference games over the last four-plus seasons, including a 72-6 (.923) mark in non-conference home games.
- UofL is 35-1 over the last four seasons in its non-conference home series, with the lone loss coming against Indiana State in 2018. The Cardinals swept Brown, James Madison and Alabama A&M at home last season.
- In the three non-conference home series in 2019, the Cardinals hit .366 as a team, averaging 11.4 runs and 13.2 hits over the nine games. Louisville tallied 39 extra-base hits while outscoring the opposition 103-14.
- During the three series, Louisville pitchers totaled a 1.32 combined ERA and struck out 125 in just 82 innings of work.
PLAYER NOTES
- Reid Detmers struck out nine in 2020 season debut while picking up a win at Ole Miss. Detmers is already fourth overall on Louisville's career strikeout list with 245 and is 146 behind Brendan McKay's all-time mark. His next victory will move him into 10th place on Louisville's career wins list. Against non-conference competition in 2019, Detmers was 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 62 strikeouts in just 45 innings. The southpaw was also dominant at Jim Patterson Stadium last year, going 8-2 with a 1.45 ERA and 111 of his 167 strikeouts.
- Bobby Miller allowed three first-inning runs in his first start of the year at Ole Miss, but rebounded with three scoreless innings before exiting. Miller was 3-0 and had two saves against non-conference foes last year, with opponents hitting just .210 against him.
- Luke Smith opened his 2020 season with three runs allowing in five innings at Ole Miss and left the game in line for the victory. Smith made a team-high 10 starts versus non-conference opponents in 2019, going 6-1 overall.
- Michael Kirian put together an enormous turnaround from his freshman to sophomore season. The southpaw allowed 16 earned runs in 11.1 innings to the tune of a 12.71 ERA in his first season. Kirian was a monster in 2019 though, leading the team with a 1.69 ERA with six earned runs given up in 32 innings. The tall lefty locked down Louisville's first win of the season picking up the final five outs at Ole Miss in the season opener.
- Adam Elliott has appeared in three of Louisville's first four games this season. The Louisville native holds a career ERA of 2.05, which would rank third in the program's history and is just 13 appearances away from moving into the top 10 all-time.
- Danny Oriente homered in the second game of the season at Ole Miss. Oriente homered just once in each of the previous two seasons. He has been the steadiest of offensive weapons for the Cardinals, posting nearly identical numbers over the last two seasons. Oriente hit .331 in 2018 with a home run and 41 driven in before hitting a team-leading .332 last season with a long ball and 49 RBIs.
- Zach Britton started just 30 of 69 games last season, but has started all four games this year for the Cardinals. Britton was 12-for-21 (.571) as a pinch-hitter in 2019, and is the only Louisville player to have a hit in each of the first four contests. The Batesville, Ind., native was one of three ACC players to pick up four extra-base hits on the opening weekend.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Players Mentioned
Drafted: Patrick Forbes
Monday, July 14
BSB: 2025 Louisville Baseball Super Regional Recap
Wednesday, June 11
Road to Omaha: 2025 Super Regionals
Tuesday, June 10
BSB: 2025 Louisville Baseball Regional Recap
Friday, June 06