Louisville Posts Shutout Over EIU

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  – The No. 9 Louisville Cardinals posted a 6-0 shutout over the Panther baseball team on Tuesday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium. EIU falls to 1-7 on the year.

The Cardinals (6-2) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a Jeff Gardner RBI single through the left side. Louisville added three runs in the following inning, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 4-0 advantage.

Grant Kay hit a RBI double down the left-field line in the fourth inning to make the score 5-0 before the Cardinals scored one final insurance run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Nick Solak.

EIU threatened to score in the top of the second with the bases loaded with only one out, but back-to-back pop ups to second base ended the inning. The Panthers also had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning with two outs before Brandon Alphin replaced Zack Burdi on the mound to get the final out of the game for Louisville.

“We are getting guys on base, especially late in the game, and I’m proud of that,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “However, we aren’t finding any way to convert those opportunities into runs.

“I was really pleased with the bullpen guys today. It could have been a blowout with the early runs they scored, but our bullpen guys kept us in the game.”

Jake Haberer (0-1) took the loss for EIU as the freshman pitcher allowed four hits and three runs in one inning of work. He also threw two strikeouts and issued two walks. Stewardson-Strasburg graduate Jaden Widdersheim pitched two innings allowing two hits, one run, two walks and striking out three.