The University of Louisville baseball team lost a close game, 9-8 in 10 innings, against Wake Forest on May 1 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The defeat ended Louisville’s four-game winning streak in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Cardinals now hold a record of 26 wins and 20 losses overall, with a conference record of 10-12.
Wake Forest started strong by scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. Louisville responded with their first run on a passed ball during the third inning, but Wake Forest quickly answered to maintain their lead. In the fourth inning, Zion Rose hit a single that drove in two runs for Louisville, followed by Tague Davis hitting his program-record-setting 27th home run of the season to give the Cardinals a brief lead.
Wake Forest regained control soon after as three runs crossed the plate early in their half of the fourth inning. The Cardinals’ bullpen then delivered five consecutive scoreless innings to keep them within reach. Louisville managed another run due to an error in the sixth and tied the game at eight after Ben Slanker and George Baker combined for key hits and aggressive baserunning in the ninth inning.
Aaron England held off Wake Forest’s attempt to win it in regulation by striking out a batter with runners on base. However, after going down quietly at bat in extra innings, Louisville allowed a walk-off single that ended the contest. Rose, Davis, Slanker and Baker each recorded two hits for Louisville while Jack Brown, Ty Starke, Zane Stahl and England all pitched scoreless relief outings.
Louisville will play Wake Forest again on Friday evening.
