Still two wins away from another College World Series.

No one expected it to be easy for the University of Louisville baseball team against Cal State Fullerton. The Titans  have won the NCAA championship four times — in 1979, 1984, 1995 and 2004 — and have been a consistent contender.

UofL is 0-4 against Cal State, including a Super Regional sweep in 2009, an 8-6 loss early this season and the 12-inning 3-2 loss at Jim Patterson Stadium on Saturday.

Kyle Funkhouser in control much of the way, giving up only five hits and two bases on balls through seven innings. Sending him back to the mound in the eighth inning a bit much, a little too optimistic.

Expect the Cardinals to start reversing the trend Sunday. There’s too much on the line. They’ve seen the best pitching Cal State Fullerton has to offer. They collected 12 hits, including two home runs, in a pitcher’s duel on Saturday, leaving 11 runners on base. That won’t happen again.

Sunday’s first pitch will be at Noon, and will be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.

Share this

By Charlie Springer

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