The University of Louisville baseball team faced a tough challenge in the series finale against No. 4 Clemson, succumbing to a 17-7 defeat in seven innings at Jim Patterson Stadium on Sunday.
Louisville (25-18, 10-11 ACC) encountered an early deficit from which they struggled to recover, with Clemson (34-9, 15-6) capitalizing on a strong start to secure a commanding lead.
Clemson wasted no time asserting dominance, scoring four runs in the opening inning and extending their lead to 13-1 by the end of the fourth inning.
Despite the daunting deficit, Louisville showed resilience and mounted a comeback effort. JT Benson and Isaac Humphrey contributed to the offensive surge, driving in runs to narrow the gap. Humphrey’s opposite-field homer in the fifth inning injected momentum into Louisville’s play.
The Cardinals continued to chip away at Clemson’s lead, adding four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Alex Alicea’s two-run double. However, Clemson responded with four runs of their own in the seventh inning, reestablishing a double-digit lead and sealing the victory via the run rule.
Alex Alicea emerged as a standout performer for Louisville, driving in three runs while Matt Klein contributed three hits. Ryan McCoy’s efforts were notable, scoring three times during the game.
Looking ahead, Louisville aims to bounce back as they prepare to host Northern Kentucky in non-conference action on Tuesday. The Cardinals will seek to regroup and harness their strengths as they strive for a return to winning form at Jim Patterson Stadium.
