Louisville Smashed by Virginia Tech in Series Finale

W: Griffin Stieg (3-1), L: Patrick Forbes (0-1)

Playing in their first rubber match of the 2024 season, the Louisville baseball program came up well short in the finale of their three-game weekend series against Virginia Tech, dropping an 8-1 decision on Sunday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

It clinches a series loss for the Cardinals (13-7, 1-2 ACC), who won in the opener before falling in game two. They lose their opening series in ACC play for the first time since 2021, and suffer their first series loss to the Hokies (14-4, 5-1 ACC) since 1995.

A day removed from posting their worst outing of the season, Louisville's pitching staff had another rough day at the ballpark. They allowed Virginia Tech to launch five home runs - including three from Carson DeMartini - and let the Hokies score in five of the first six innings of the game.

The Cardinals weren't much better at the plate. They collected just six base hits and were getting no-hit until the fourth inning, drew no walks, and generated seven total base runners on the afternoon. Their only run for the game came in the sixth inning on a 390-foot solo home run to right-center from Zion Rose (2-4, HR, RBI), who was also the only player to reach base multiple times.

Making his fourth start on the mound so far this season, Patrick Forbes (2.1 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 8 H, 5 ER) was absolutely shellacked by Virginia Tech. He surrendered four solo home runs on the afternoon: one in the first, one in the second and two in the third.

After Forbes allowed another run to come home in the third on a wild pitch, Justin West (1.2 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3 H, 1 ER) came in to replace him. But the early onslaught by the Hokies didn't stop there, as another run in the frame would scamper home on a passed ball, then West would go on to surrender a solo home run himself in the fourth.

Ty Starke (1.1 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 2 H, 1 ER) twirled a scoreless fifth inning, but even he fell victim to VT's hot hitting, eventually surrendering a bases loaded single in the sixth. Kaleb Corbett (2.2 IP, 1 K) inherited the one-out jam, and not only was able to get Louisville out of the mess, he would go pitch perfect seventh and eighth innings.

Will Koger (1.0 IP, 1 K, 2 H) would go onto pitch a scoreless ninth, but unfortunately, Louisville couldn't get the at-bats needed to mount a late comeback. Following Rose's homer with one out in the sixth, the Cardinals could only muster three base runners for the rest of the game.

Next up for Louisville, they'll cap off their 18-game home stand with a crosstown showdown with Bellarmine. First pitch is slated for Tuesday, Mar. 19 at 6:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on the ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 93.9 The Ville.