Louisville Claims Rubber Match vs. Georgia Tech
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
UL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
W: Carson Liggett (4-0), L: Jackson Finley (1-1), S: Tate Kuehner (2)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Squaring off against Georgia Tech for the final game of their weekend series to kick off ACC play, the Louisville baseball program finished what they started, rebounding to capture the Sunday rubber match 9-3 and clinch the series.
The No. 2 Cardinals (17-2, 2-1 ACC), who took the series opener before falling in game two to the Yellow Jackets (14-6, 3-3 ACC), move to 21-8-1 in ACC rubber matches and 30-6 in ACC home series since joining the conference in 2015.
Logan Beard (2-3, HR, 3 RBI) led the way for Louisville at the plate, tying a season-high in RBI while being the only Cardinal to drive in multiple runs. Jack Payton (3-5, RBI), J.T. Benson (2-4, RBI, 2B, BB) and Gavin Kilen (2-4, RBI, 2B) joined Beard in having multi-hit days, while Payton and Christian Knapczyk (1-4, BB) each stole three bases. With eight swiped bags, it marked the most by Louisville since doing the same against Murray State on Mar. 9, 2021.
Louisville wasted little time getting on the board, plating the first two runs of the game right out of the gates. Benson struck first with an RBI double in the opening frame, then Beard added a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
Carson Liggett (6.0 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 5 H, 2 ER) cruised through the first three innings on the mound, allowing only two base runners in that stretch, but then Georgia Tech caught up to him in the fourth. The Jackets briefly took the lead, plating three runs in the frame off a pair of RBI base hits and a sacrifice fly.
GT's advantage didn't last long, as the Louisville offense immediately responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs. Beard tied the game on an RBI single, then Kilen followed him up with an RBI single of his own to give the Cardinals back the lead.
Beard and Will Vierling (0-2, RBI, SF) gave Louisville some added insurance through the middle innings. The latter collected a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while the former added a solo home run in the sixth to double up the Cardinals' lead.
Louisville blew the game open late with an eighth inning three-spot. Payton collected an RBI single, while he and Knapczyk both scored from third base on wild pitches.
On top of the insurance, pitching rebounded from the brief GT scoring output. Liggett would go on to toss scoreless fifth and sixth innings after giving up the three-spot, while Tucker Biven (1.2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 H) and Tate Kuehner (1.1, IP, 2 K) combined to keep the Jackets off the scoreboard in the final three innings.
Next up for Louisville, they'll conclude their nine-game home stand with a midweek matchup against Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for Tuesday, Mar. 21 at 6:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.
(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)
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