The University of Louisville baseball team lost 6-5 to California on Saturday, April 18, in the second game of their weekend series. The Cardinals have now dropped the first two games against Cal and will attempt to avoid a sweep when they play again on Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
This loss marks another setback for Louisville (21-18, 6-11 Atlantic Coast Conference), who managed to score first for the second consecutive day. Lucas Moore singled at the start of the second inning, advanced to third after stealing second and taking advantage of an error, and then scored on Jimmy Nugent’s groundout.
After holding Cal scoreless for two innings, starting pitcher Ethan Eberle allowed three runs in the third inning with two outs. Louisville responded in the fifth when Nugent hit a solo home run and was followed by singles from Ben Slanker and Kade Elam. Zach Davis moved both runners up with a bunt before Griffin Crain and Zion Rose drove them in, briefly giving Louisville a 4-3 lead.
Cal quickly regained control with a two-run homer in their half of the fifth inning and added another run on a wild pitch in the seventh. In the ninth inning, Davis delivered an RBI single with two outs to cut Cal’s lead to one run, but Louisville’s rally ended with a groundout on the next pitch.
Eberle took his third loss of the season after pitching five innings and allowing five runs. Peter Michael pitched out of relief for two innings, striking out four while giving up one run. Nugent led all Cardinals hitters by going 2-for-4 with his third home run this year. Moore stole his 25th base this season during Saturday’s game; he now holds sole possession of second place on Louisville’s all-time stolen base list with 95 career steals.
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