Another four hours hanging on every pitch, the University of Louisville pitchers making just enough of them to hang on to an 8-5 win over the North Carolina State baseball team.
A North Carolina State team, by the way, that is going to create problems for some teams in Atlantic Coast Conference tournament next week. Like Florida State and Clemson, loaded with good hitters throughout the lineup.
The win would be the 25th for UofL during the ACC’s regular season, an all-time conference record. Equally impressive, the Cardinals won all 10 of the series against ACC teams. A season in which they were 42-14 overall and 25-5 in conference play.
The strong finish to the regular season all but guarantees that Louisville will be a top five seed in the NCAA tournament. There will be more baseball this season at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Louisville would need Nick Burdi again to finally shut them down after NC State tied the game 5-5 going into the ninth. UofL’s closer would be tapped for two hits and a walk in the bottom on the inning. But he also would strike out Logan Ratledge, Andrew Knizner and Ryne Willard, three of the Wolfpack’s best hitters along the way.
Zach Lucas with a perfect bunt in the top of the ninth to score Corey Ray who had doubled. Lucas didn’t get credit for an RBI but he made it possible. Logan Taylor’s single pushed Ryan Summers (running for Brendan McKay who had reached base on an error) and Lucas across the plate.