After last year’s successful season the #7 ranked Cardinals and head coach Dan McDonnell look to have another great season on the diamond.
The Cards opened the season with a 3 game road trip starting off with a dramatic win against West Virginia (7-6) last Friday with a walk off homer by senior outfielder Jeff Gardner in the 10th inning.
Saturday the Cards suffered their first loss of the season to The Citadel (5-3) and finished the road trip with a win against Delaware (6-1).
Opening a 17 game home stand the Cards invited in state school Eastern Kentucky to open up the action at Jim Patterson Stadium.
The Cardinals routed Eastern KY 13-1 running out Elizabethtown’s Jake Sparger to throw out the first pitch of the home stand and Sparger struck out a career best four while allowing just one run on four hits in four innings in Sparger’s first collegiate start. In relief freshman Zack Burdi made his debut pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief without allowing a single hit.
Now to the offensive showcase put on by the Cardinals. In the 13-1 rout came a season high 12 hits scoring 6 runs in the 3rd and 5 more in the 6th.
Propelling the offense was Louisville native and Junior shortstop Zach Lucas and senior catcher Shane Crain as both smacked homers. Lucas went 2-4 at the dish with 4 RBI’s along with Senior 3rd baseman Alex Chittenden chipping in 2 hits, 2 RBI’s, while Jeff Gardner went 2 for 3 with a RBI and run scored.
The rout pushed the Card’s overall record to (3-1).
Up next starting Friday 2/21 the Cards host Western Michigan for a weekend series. Friday the game will be at 3:00 pm while on Saturday and Sunday the start time is 1:00 pm.
Remember Cards fans admission is always free and it’s a great friendly and family atmosphere all while supporting the Cards who are one of the nation’s top teams.
