Saturday, February 14
Louisville, Ky.
1:00 PM
University of Louisville
0-2
4
vs
13
Michigan State
2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
2
0
0
6
0
4
0
1
0
13
14
1
Louisville
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
4
13
0
Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Lose Second Straight to Start Season
February 14, 2026 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball team took its second straight loss to start the 2026 season, losing 13-4 to Michigan State on Saturday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Louisville (0-2) has lost consecutive games to start the year for just the third time under Dan McDonnell.
After a pair of runs in the top of the first from the Spartans, Louisville quickly answered with two of its own in the bottom half.
Lucas Moore singled with one away before a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. Ben Slanker then continued his strong weekend with a two-run single into right that tied the game.
Louisville starting pitcher Jake Bean responded with consecutive scoreless innings in the second and third but exited with two outs in the fourth after allowing a third run.
Michigan State (2-0) took advantage with Bean out of the game, taking a walk before a single and grand slam broke the game open.
The Cardinals got a run back in the fifth on a Jimmy Nugent sacrifice fly, but the Spartans put four more on the board in the seventh to put the game well out of reach.
Slanker notched his second homer in as many games in the seventh inning, tucking one just inside the left field foul pole. The transfer from Ohio is 5-for-7 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in his first two games.
Hot finished the day with the first four-hit game of his Louisville tenure and third of his collegiate career.
Louisville and Michigan State wrap up the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Louisville (0-2) has lost consecutive games to start the year for just the third time under Dan McDonnell.
After a pair of runs in the top of the first from the Spartans, Louisville quickly answered with two of its own in the bottom half.
Lucas Moore singled with one away before a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. Ben Slanker then continued his strong weekend with a two-run single into right that tied the game.
Louisville starting pitcher Jake Bean responded with consecutive scoreless innings in the second and third but exited with two outs in the fourth after allowing a third run.
Michigan State (2-0) took advantage with Bean out of the game, taking a walk before a single and grand slam broke the game open.
The Cardinals got a run back in the fifth on a Jimmy Nugent sacrifice fly, but the Spartans put four more on the board in the seventh to put the game well out of reach.
Slanker notched his second homer in as many games in the seventh inning, tucking one just inside the left field foul pole. The transfer from Ohio is 5-for-7 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in his first two games.
Hot finished the day with the first four-hit game of his Louisville tenure and third of his collegiate career.
Louisville and Michigan State wrap up the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chambers,Brady (1-0)
L: Bean, Jake (0-1)
Batting:
2B: McKay,Ryan 1 ; Broski,Adam 1 ; Sturgess,Isaac 1
HR: Seymour,Randy 1 ; Picot,Parker 2
RBI: McKay,Ryan 1 ; Seymour,Randy 3 ; Picot,Parker 8 ; Sturgess,Isaac 1
SF: Picot,Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams,Nick 3 ; McKay,Ryan 3 ; Seymour,Randy 2 ; Picot,Parker 2 ; Oliver,Jasen 1 ; Sturgess,Isaac 2
HBP: Sturgess,Isaac 1
Batting:
HR: Slanker, Ben 1
RBI: Slanker, Ben 3 ; Nugent, Jimmy 1
SF: Nugent, Jimmy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moore, Lucas 1 ; Davis, Tague 1 ; Elam, Kade 1 ; Slanker, Ben 1
SB: Moore, Lucas 1
CS: Hot, Bayram 1
HBP: Elam, Kade 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
4
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballOF
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