The fourth-ranked University of Louisville baseball team got some payback in a big way on Friday night as they defeated No. 12 Texas A&M 14-5 in the 2023 Shriners Children’s College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
The game was a rematch of last year’s College Station Super Regional, where Texas A&M ended Louisville’s season with a three-game sweep. But this time around, the Cardinals came out strong and never looked back.
Louisville got off to a quick start in the first inning, scoring three runs to set the tone for the game. Christian Knapczyk and Jack Payton hit back-to-back doubles, and Ryan McCoy drew a walk to load the bases. All three runners came around to score, and the Cardinals never looked back.
Louisville added another run in the second inning, with Knapczyk hitting a triple to drive in a run. They then scored two more runs in the third to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
On the defensive side, Louisville’s pitcher Ryan Hawks was dominant. He struck out six of the first nine batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. Hawks pitched six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. His impressive performance lowered his ERA to 0.46 through three starts.
The Cardinals blew the game open in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs to take a commanding 14-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by Logan Beard’s two-run single to right field and a wild pitch that brought in the eighth run of the inning.
Texas A&M managed to score five runs in the game, but it was too little too late as Louisville’s Evan Webster closed things out without allowing a run in the final seven outs.
Four different Louisville players had multi-hit games, with Eddie King Jr. leading the way with a 3-for-4 night. Four players drove in multiple runs, and five players scored at least two runs.
With the win, Louisville improved to 8-1 on the season and will take on No. 10 TCU in the second game of the three-game series on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
Overall, it was an impressive victory for Louisville, who got revenge against a team that had ended their season just a year ago. The Cardinals showed their strength both on offense and defense, and they will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming games.