Cardinals Open Weekend with 9-1 Victory over Akron

Friday, March 4

Louisville, Ky.

5:00 PM

University of Louisville

6-3

Akron

1-6

Akron

Louisville

Photo by: Lucas Niemi | Louisville Athletics

March 04, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score PDF Box Score Dan McDonnell Postgame Video Tate Kuehner Postgame Video

Louisville cruised behind six strong innings from Tate Kuehner.

By: Stephen Williams

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball team rolled to a 9-1 win over Akron in the weekend series opener Friday evening at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Louisville (6-3) picked up its third straight victory and will wrap the series on Saturday. The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals fell behind on Friday, giving up a run in the top of the first inning, but it would be all Louisville the rest of the way.

Ben Bianco knotted the game up at one apiece with his first home run of the season at second. Ben Metzinger, Jack Payton and Bianco then tallied RBI singles in the third to put the Cardinals in front for good.

Louisville tacked on a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth and seventh innings. Christian Knapczyk and Logan Beard each registered RBI singles, and Austin Bode picked up his first career RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Tate Kuehner (2-0) was the beneficiary of the offense, as the southpaw threw up five straight scoreless frames after allowing the first inning run. Kuehner gave up just two hits and struck out six over six innings.

Jacob Ferris pitched a scoreless seventh before Luke Seed and Ben Wiegman made their 2022 debuts with perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

Knapczyk and Payton each finished 3-for-5 at the plate, accounting for half of Louisville's 12 hits on the night. Bianco was a perfect 2-for-2 and Metzinger added two hits as well.

FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.