It was a successful weekend for the seventh-ranked University of Louisville baseball team, as the Cardinals finished off a three-game sweep at NC State with an 8-3 victory on Sunday.
Louisville (14-5, 7-2 ACC) has now won six consecutive ACC contests after sweeping Boston College at home last weekend. It’s the first time the Cardinals have swept consecutive conference weekends since doing so against Pitt and Notre Dame in the final two series of the 2018 season.
UofL found itself behind 3-1 heading into the seventh inning on Sunday, but the offense finally found its footing. Alex Binelas banged a ball off the scoreboard in right-centerfield to cut the deficit in half in the seventh and the bats caught fire in the eighth.
Christian Knapczyk got things going with a one-out double in the right field corner, the first of five consecutive hits for the Cards. Cooper Bowman followed with a bunt single and Luke Brown tied the game with a single through the left side.
Henry Davis then delivered the big blow with a two-run double into the right field corner that gave Louisville a 5-3 lead. Binelas and Trey Leonard added run-scoring hits of their own to cap off the five-run decisive frame.
Adam Elliott (2-1) picked up the win with 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The left-hander entered the game in the seventh with runners on the corners and the Cardinals down one and was able to get out of the jam setting up the offensive outburst in the following frame.
Binelas and Cameron Masterman each had a pair of hits on the day to lead the Cardinals. Eight different players had a hit in the win, while seven scored at least one run.
Davis’ go-ahead double in the eighth inning extended his hitting streak to 21 games, tying for the second-longest hitting streak in Louisville history.
Louisville now returns home for a midweek contest against Western Kentucky on Tuesday at Jim Patterson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
