The Observer more than a little apprehensive about University of Louisville versus Vanderbilt, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. No one can blame him, UofL fans experiencing much of the latter during a rocky 2021 college baseball season.

Alex Binelas hit his 12th home run, the ball landing on a CSX train headed south toward Nashville (UofL photo).

But no, even with storm clouds in the distance on a humid day, the baseball gods would smile on Louisville. The Cardinals performing like they were expected, like a team picked among the nation’s best before the campaign began. Three days after their lowest point of the season, lost a three-game sweep to Clemson.

Eleventh-ranked UofL handing second-ranked Vanderbilt a 7-2 loss at Cardinal Stadium.

Sophomore Carter Lohman, a 6-foot-2, sophomore left handed pitcher, turning in the game of his career, allowing only two hits while striking out four batters. Never mind that one of those hits was a home run, he was holding Vandy at bay. None of those early inning collapses for a UofL pitcher this game. He was be relieved by Evan Webster in the fifth inning, Tate Kuehner in the sixth, Kaleb Corbett in the eighth, and Adam Elliott in the ninth.

Coach Dan McDonnell ready to quickly pull the trigger quickly if hurler showed weakness, calling in Elliott to get the final out in the ninth inning with the bases loaded. When it was all done, the most serious Vanderbilt threat had been quelled, collecting only six hits in the game. The Cardinals sorely needing a strong pitching effort, managing only five hits themselves.

One of those hits will be the stuff of Cardinal baseball lore. Alex Binelas coming through with fifth inning home run blast,  easily clearing the right center fence and hopping aboard one of those long and winding CSX trains heading southward to Nashville and points beyond. His 12th home run of the season, his 252 batting average confirming that the early season slump is history.

Henry Davis continuing to pad his already impressive hitting stats with two hits, including a home run. He currently has a 406 batting average, with 10 home runs, with 56 hits and 38 runs batted in.

A solid win, reaffirming the relevance of UofL baseball, badly needed with tournament time rapidly approaching.

 

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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.

One thought on “Louisville baseball reemerges in win over Vanderbilt”
  1. You called it, Charlie. You pronounced that Binelas homer hitting that train even before the tv guys did. The Cards are getting a reputation for not just slugging and stealing bases but for knocking balls so hard out of the park that they bust up scoreboards and crash into moving trains. Stuff legends are made of. Go Cards!

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