Cardinals Lose Lead in Dramatic Ninth Inning, Series Continues Saturday Night
The 10th-ranked University of Louisville baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 10-9 loss on Friday night at Duke, following a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning.
Despite holding a 9-6 lead going into the ninth, Louisville (26-11, 8-8 ACC) saw their advantage slip away as an error and two walks loaded the bases with just one out. The first-pitch grand slam then handed the Cardinals a devastating loss.
The series opener saw Louisville build a strong 7-0 lead early on, with Ryan McCoy hitting a three-run home run in the first inning, the first of two home runs for the first baseman during the game. McCoy doubled home a run in his second at-bat, later scoring on a Logan Beard RBI single to make it 5-0 in the third.
Additional runs were scored in the fourth and fifth innings, with JT Benson’s single and McCoy’s second home run of the night putting Louisville up by seven.
Duke (25-12, 10-8) mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three two-run home runs and closing the gap to just one. Tate Kuehner managed to steady the Cardinals, securing the final out in the fifth and maintaining a clean sheet in the sixth.
The Cardinals extended their lead again with Benson’s solo shot in the seventh and Haven Mangrum’s run-scoring double in the eighth. Ryan Hawks and Kuehner combined for 15 strikeouts on the night, but a grand slam in the ninth ultimately sealed their fate.
Despite the loss, Benson and McCoy had impressive performances, both going 3-for-5, with McCoy driving in a career-best five runs.
The series between Louisville and Duke will continue on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, with the game televised on ACC Network.