Danny Oriente creating a niche for himself with an 11-game hitting streak for the Louisville baseball team.

Danny Oriente was pretty much an unknown quantity for University of Louisville baseball fans coming into this season. The UofL sophomore missed almost all last season after being injured on the opening weekend.

Not unknown to Coach Dan McDonnell, of course, who won a heated recruited battle for the highly-touted Illinois all-stater. The 5-foot-11 sophomore has been on fire lately as the designated hitter, living up to his coach’s expectations 

Oriente has hit safely in 11 straight games, with 20 hits in 39 at bats for a hefty 512 batting average in those 11 games. He has raised his average to 347 overall, second only to Logan Wyatt at 352.

He answered the call three times in Friday’s first game against Virginia with two hits in three at-bats while driving in four runs. It was his double in the bottom of the eighth, driving in Wyatt and Josh Stowers, that was the deciding blow in a 5-4 win over the visiting Cavaliers.

Another nice performance by starting pitcher Adam Wolf, who gave up four runs and seven hits during seven innings. The win, however, went to Bryan Hoeing (4-1) and the save to Shay Smiddy, his first this season.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

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