Friday, March 31
Raleigh, N.C.
6:00 PM
University of Louisville
at
NC State
Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Head to NC State for Weekend Series
March 30, 2023 | Baseball
The series gets underway on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball team finishes off a seven-game road swing with three at NC State this weekend. The Friday and Saturday games are scheduled for 6 p.m. ET with the Sunday game set for noon ET. Friday's game will be televised on ACC Network Extra with the Saturday game on ACC Network and Sunday's game on ESPNews. Radio coverage of all three games will be available on 93.9 The Ville and 970 WGTK.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Louisville pounded out a season-high four home runs in a 14-1 seven-inning victory at Cincinnati on Tuesday night. Jack Payton recorded his first career multi-homer game, homering in each of the first two innings and driving in a career-best five runs in the win.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville leads the all-time series against NC State 17-5. The Cardinals have won eight of the last nine games against the Wolfpack and are on an eight-game winning streak in Raleigh.
The Cardinals took 2-of-3 from NC State last April in Louisville, winning the first and third games of the series. Isaac Humphrey and Jack Payton each went 5-for-10 at the plate driving in four runs apiece and combining for five doubles. Christian Knapczyk is 9-for-26 (.346) all-time against NC State with five RBIs and six runs scored in six career contests.
TEAM NOTES
PLAYER NOTES
CARDS GETTING MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUNG PLAYERS
Dan McDonnell returned four position player starters and 11 pitchers from the 2022 team that reached a Super Regional. In addition to that core group, the Cardinals are getting large contributions from a collection of true freshmen and players that sat out last season.
True freshmen Gavin Kilen and Patrick Forbes have combined to make 28 starts in the lineup this season with both players hitting .300 or better, while Matt Klein and Will Vierling have been sharing the backup catcher position. That quartet joins Eddie King Jr. and Will Cook, who each missed their freshman season due to injury, to help make up a Louisville offense that is averaging eight runs per game.
On the mound, true freshmen Tucker Biven and Kayden Campbell have been called upon often out of the bullpen. Biven has a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings pitched, while Campbell has already tallied a pair of saves.
LOUISVILLE RUNNING WILD OVER LAST NINE GAMES
Under Dan McDonnell, the Cardinals have routinely been among the top stolen base teams in the country. UofL has notched at least 100 stolen bases in eight of the last nine full seasons after swiping 103 in 2022.
The Cards were off to a slow start this spring with just 12 stolen bases through the first 14 games. However, Louisville has tallied 34 in its last nine contests, including a season-high eight in the series finale against Georgia Tech.
Christian Knapczyk has stolen 11 bases in his last 10 games, moving him into a tie for the ACC lead with 13.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Louisville pounded out a season-high four home runs in a 14-1 seven-inning victory at Cincinnati on Tuesday night. Jack Payton recorded his first career multi-homer game, homering in each of the first two innings and driving in a career-best five runs in the win.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville leads the all-time series against NC State 17-5. The Cardinals have won eight of the last nine games against the Wolfpack and are on an eight-game winning streak in Raleigh.
The Cardinals took 2-of-3 from NC State last April in Louisville, winning the first and third games of the series. Isaac Humphrey and Jack Payton each went 5-for-10 at the plate driving in four runs apiece and combining for five doubles. Christian Knapczyk is 9-for-26 (.346) all-time against NC State with five RBIs and six runs scored in six career contests.
TEAM NOTES
- Louisville owns 148 conference wins since joining the ACC in 2015, the most conference wins during that time of any Power Five school.
- UofL has won 52 of its 74 ACC series (52-19-2 - one series ended 1-1, one ended 1-1-1) since joining the league and is 55-16-1 in its series finales during that span, including a 21-8-1 record in rubber games.
- The Cardinals have won 30 of their 36 ACC series at home since debuting in the conference.
- UofL is 15-2 when tallying more hits than the opposition. During Dan McDonnell's tenure at Louisville, the Cardinals are 566-65 (.897) when they record more hits.
- Louisville had just 12 stolen bases through the first 14 games, but has stolen 34 in the last 10.
- The Cardinals rank top 20 nationally in earned run average (3.39), hits allowed per nine innings (7.11), and WHIP (1.26).
- The Cardinals have held the opposition to two runs or fewer 12 times through 24 games. Louisville limited opponents to two or less 14 times in 2022.
- Louisville has been excellent early in games this spring, outscoring opponents 81-24 in the first three innings.
- Through 24 games, the Cardinals have started 23 different batting orders and 21 different defensive alignments.
PLAYER NOTES
- Christian Knapczyk had an excellent weekend at the plate at Notre Dame, going 7-for-15 with three consecutive multi-hit games. Knapczyk has been the catalyst at the top of the Louisville lineup and is currently tied for the ACC lead with 14 stolen bases and ranks second in the conference with 12 HBPs. The junior has been on a tear on the basepaths lately, swiping 11 bags in the last 10 games.
- Jack Payton finished with an ACC-best 23 doubles in 2022, but homered just four times. The junior is still racking up the doubles with seven already this season. However, Payton has shown more power this spring and matched his sophomore season total just 10 games into 2023. He recorded his first multi-homer game Tuesday at Cincinnati, homering in the each of the first two innings, and currently leads the Cards with 13 multi-hit games including six with three hits.
- Brandon Anderson made just seven starts during his freshman season, posting a .316 average with all 12 of his hits going for singles. Anderson has already started nine times this spring and is hitting .438 (14-for-32) with four doubles and 12 RBIs in those nine games.
- Carson Liggett earned the Sunday starting role to open the season and has been terrific to start the season. The sophomore is 5-0 and turned in the best start of his college career against Michigan in the finale at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Liggett gave up just one hit over seven shutout innings in what turned out to be a complete-game effort as the Cards run-ruled Michigan.
- Tate Kuehner was limited to start the season due to injury, but has been dynamic out of Louisville's bullpen since returning. The southpaw has made six appearances, giving up just one run on three hits in 10 innings. Kuehner locked down his first save against TCU in Houston before recording a win and a save in the Georgia Tech series. Kuehner also turned in a dominant outing in the finale at Notre Dame, handling the final four innings with just one baserunner allowed in a 2-1 win.
- Riley Phillips opened the season as the Saturday starter for the Cardinals, but moved to the bullpen after two starts. The southpaw has been an excellent option in a relief role this season, making five appearances with three runs allowed in 9.1 innings and tallying 18 strikeouts. Phillips struck out six of the eight batters he faced in 2.1 innings of work on Tuesday at Cincinnati.
- Tucker Biven has the ability to play both ways for the Cardinals, but his biggest impact so far has come on the mound. The right-hander has made six relief appearances, four of which have been longer than one inning, and has allowed just one run in 13 innings of work.
CARDS GETTING MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUNG PLAYERS
Dan McDonnell returned four position player starters and 11 pitchers from the 2022 team that reached a Super Regional. In addition to that core group, the Cardinals are getting large contributions from a collection of true freshmen and players that sat out last season.
True freshmen Gavin Kilen and Patrick Forbes have combined to make 28 starts in the lineup this season with both players hitting .300 or better, while Matt Klein and Will Vierling have been sharing the backup catcher position. That quartet joins Eddie King Jr. and Will Cook, who each missed their freshman season due to injury, to help make up a Louisville offense that is averaging eight runs per game.
On the mound, true freshmen Tucker Biven and Kayden Campbell have been called upon often out of the bullpen. Biven has a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings pitched, while Campbell has already tallied a pair of saves.
LOUISVILLE RUNNING WILD OVER LAST NINE GAMES
Under Dan McDonnell, the Cardinals have routinely been among the top stolen base teams in the country. UofL has notched at least 100 stolen bases in eight of the last nine full seasons after swiping 103 in 2022.
The Cards were off to a slow start this spring with just 12 stolen bases through the first 14 games. However, Louisville has tallied 34 in its last nine contests, including a season-high eight in the series finale against Georgia Tech.
Christian Knapczyk has stolen 11 bases in his last 10 games, moving him into a tie for the ACC lead with 13.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
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