Louisville Gets Revenge, Blasts Texas A&M in Shriners College Classic

The Cardinals get revenge for last season's Super Regional loss to the Aggies.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
UL	3	1	2	0	8	0	0	0	0	14	13	0
TAMU	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	5	5	2

W: Ryan Hawks (3-0), L: Nathan Dettmer (0-1)

HOUSTON - Heading on down to the Lone Star State for a trio of games in the Shriners Children's College Classic, the Louisville baseball program got off to a fantastic start in the event, decimating Texas A&M 14-5 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

The victory was a measure of revenge for the No. 4 Cardinals (8-1). They saw their 2022 season come to an end at the hands of the No. 12 Aggies (5-4), with Texas A&M pulling off a two-game sweep over Louisville in last year's College Station Super Regional.

The suffocating offensive effort was powered by several Louisville players. Eight different Cardinals collected base hits, with Christian Knapczyk (2-5, RBI, 2B, 3B, BB), Jack Payton (2-6, RBI, 2B), Ryan McCoy (2-3, RBI, BB) and Eddie King Jr. (3-4, 2 RBI) finishing with multi-hit days.

When it came to run production, eight different players drove in a runner. Patrick Forbes (0-2, 2 RBI, BB), Isaac Humphrey (1-1, 2 RBI), Logan Beard (1-2, 2 RBI, BB) and King all drove in multiple runners on the evening.

Louisville scored early and often against Texas A&M, plating six runs in the first three innings, including a three-spot in the opening frame. Knapczyk scored on a wild pitch, Forbes collected an RBI groundout and Humphrey hit a sacrifice fly to get the scoring going.

Knapczyk followed that up with an RBI triple in the second inning, then in the third, King hit an RBI single and Haven Mangrum (0-5, RBI) drove in another run on a fielder's choice.

The Cardinals' fast start by the batters was backed up by another quality start on the mound by Ryan Hawks (6.0 IP, 8 K, 4 BB, 2 H). He did not give up a base hit until the fourth inning, and came one strikeout shy of tying his career-high. He has now pitched 13.1 consecutive scoreless innings, having not surrendered an earned run since the season opener vs. Bucknell.

Following a scoreless fourth, Louisville then blew the game open with an eight-run fifth inning. Beard, Payton, McCoy and King each struck RBI singles with Beard driving home two, Forbes drew a bases loaded walk and scored on a wild pitch, and Humphrey collected a sacrifice fly.

Louisville came close to run-ruling Texas A&M, but the Aggies plated just enough runs in the seventh to force the game to go a full nine innings. Reliever Ben Wiegman (0.2 IP, 0 K, 2 BB, 3 H 5 ER) struggled mightily after Hawks' day was done, and Evan Webster (2.1 IP, 3 K, 2 BB) was eventually needed to finish out the seventh. Webster then pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings to close the door on A&M.

Next up for Louisville, they'll play their second game in the Shriners College Classic with a matchup against TCU. First pitch is slated for Saturday, Mar. 4 at 4:00 p.m. EST, and will be streamed on Astros.com and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter