Louisville Swept in Opening Day Doubleheader vs. Indiana State, UConn

Game One vs. Indiana State

W: Brennyn Cutts (1-0), L: Riley Phillips (0-1), S: Jared Spencer (1)

Game Two vs. UConn

W: Ben Schild (1-0), L: Kayden Campbell (0-1)

TAMPA, Fla. - College baseball made its triumphant return on Friday, but the Louisville baseball program was unable to get their 2024 campaign off on the right foot, getting swept in an Opening Day doubleheader against Indiana State and UConn down at USF Baseball Stadium.

The Cardinals (0-2) suffered their first season-opening defeat since 2019 with an 8-7 loss against the Sycamores, then were swept in a doubleheader for the first time since Apr. 17, 2014 at UCF when they were walked off by the Huskies in a 4-3 decision.

Louisville - who is beginning the year down in Florida with the pair of neutral site games and one true road game vs. host USF - moves to 0-2 for the first time since they were swept in a three-game series at Florida to open the 2009 season.

Getting the season-opening start on the mound, Wright State transfer Sebastian Gongora (5.0 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 5 H, 2 ER) had a bit of a shaky start to his Louisville career. He allowed leadoff singles in the first three innings, and loaded the bases with no outs in the second, allowing Indiana State to strike first with a bases loaded single and groundout.

ISU's initial lead didn't last long, as Louisville countered with a three-spot in the third inning. J.T. Benson (1-4, RBI, BB) collected the Cardinals' first RBI of the season with an RBI single, then Luke Napleton (1-4, RBI, 3B) collected an RBI triple to send Benson home, while also scoring himself on a throwing error. Louisville then doubled up on their lead with an RBI single in the fourth from Logan Beard (1-4, RBI).

Gongora ended his start strong with a pair of clean innings, but when Louisville made a pitching change to start the sixth, Indiana State took advantage. The Sycamores put up a three-spot of their own in the frame, with Will Koger (0.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 H, 3 ER) allowing an RBI groundout and game-tying single, then Riley Phillips (1.1 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 4 H, 3 ER) surrendering a go-ahead RBI single.

The Cardinals had a swift response, posting three more runs in the bottom of the frame. Ryan McCoy (1-3, RBI, 3B, BB) and Gavin Kilen (1-4, RBI, 3B) hit back-to-back RBI triples, then Lucas More scratched across an RBI fielder's choice. However, the next inning, Phillips gave up a go-ahead three-run home run, with Jake Karaba (2.1 IP, 4 K, 2 BB) having to come in to get the final out of the seventh.

Karaba gave Louisville a chance down the stretch, pitching scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, but the Cardinals' offense went cold down the stretch. UofL went nine-up, nine-down in the final three innings, with the lone baserunner in this stretch - a walk from McCoy in the eight - being erased by a double play.

In game two against UConn, Louisville got much stronger pitching right out of the gates. Evan Webster (4.0 IP, 4 K, 2 BB, 2 H) looked sharp in just his fourth career start, setting a new career-high in innings pitched while also matching his career-high in strikeouts. As the first reliever out of the bullpen, Kaleb Corbett (2.1 IP, 2 K, 1 H, 1 ER) allowed a solo homer in the fifth for the game's first run, but rebounded afterwards.

But offensively, at least through the first six innings, Louisville did very little at the plate. During this stretch, they collected only three base hits, generated just five total baserunners, and struck out five times.

Then in the seventh inning, the Cardinals' bats finally woke up, putting up a trio of runs to take the lead. Matt Klein (1-4, 2 RBI) struck a go-ahead, two-RBI double, which was then followed up by an RBI single from Hoy (1-3, RBI).

However, UConn wasn't going to go away quietly. After being inserted in the seventh to help Corbett put up a zero in the frame, JUCO transfer Jared Lessman (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 H, 2 ER) then gave up back-to-back one-out solo home runs in the eighth on back-to-back pitches to tie the game.

Kayden Campbell (0.2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 ER) helped get the Cardinals out of the eighth without anymore damage, but was pulled in favor of Tucker Biven (0.2 IP, 1 H) after he allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth. The runner stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, then was brought home on a single to center field for the walk-off.

Next up for Louisville, they'll conclude their opening weekend in Tampa with their first true road game of the season against USF. First pitch is slated for Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ESPN+ and broadcast on 970 WGTK.

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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