Louisville Outlasts Northwestern in Series Opener

W: Sebastian Gongora (2-0), L: Nolan Morr (1-2)

Facing their first Power Five competition of the season, the Louisville baseball program kicked off a three-game series against Northwestern in style, taking the opener 11-5 on Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Cardinals (9-4) are now riding a nine-game win streak with their victory over the Wildcats (5-6), rebounding after dropping their first four games of the season. They have plated 14.9 runs per game during their winning streak, and cracked double figures all but once.

Brandon Anderson (1-3, 3 RBI, 3B, SF) posted his fourth game this season with at least three RBI, while Lucas Moore (3-5, RBI) and Isaac Humphrey (3-4, HR, RBI, 2B) each had three-hit days. The Cardinals launched four home runs on the afternoon, with Humphrey, Gavin Kilen (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Ryan McCoy (1-2, HR, RBI, 2 BB) and Luke Napleton (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SF) all going yard.

Louisville got an up-and-down start on the mound from Sebastian Gongora (5.1 IP, 7 K, 4 BB, 6 H, 5 ER). While the Wright State transfer posted his third game of the season with at least seven strikeouts, he also set a season-high in hits, walks and earned runs. He allowed the Wildcats to strike first with an RBI single and bases loaded walk in the second, but was able to rebound by retiring 10 of his next 11 batters faced.

The Cardinals have been fast and furious with their scoring efforts during their winning streak, but were quiet right out of the gates. In the first three innings, they collected just two base hits, and had only five batters reach base.

Then in the middle innings, Louisville's offense exploded for six unanswered runs. In the fourth, Kilen launched a 416-foot, two-run home run to right-center field, then Humphrey scored on a wild pitch. The next inning, Anderson hit a two-run triple, then Napleton collected a sacrifice fly.

Northwestern chipped into the Cardinals' lead in the sixth with a three-spot of their own. After Gongora loaded the bases with one out, Kayden Campbell (0.2 IP, 1 H) came in to replace him, but proceeded to surrender a bases-cleared double.

Louisville answered swiftly, getting five more unanswered runs including back-to-back two-spots. McCoy blasted a 399-foot, opposite field solo homer to lead off the sixth, then Anderson added a sacrifice fly behind him. In the seventh, Humphrey also led off the frame with a 395-foot solo shot, then Moore collected an RBI single. Napleton then made it three straight innings with a home run thanks to a 413-foot solo blast that bounced off the scissor lift camera well in center field

Down the stretch, Louisville got strong pitching from their bullpen to prevent any sort of Northwestern comeback attempt. Ty Starke (2.0 IP, 3 K) twirled back-to-back perfect innings, then Tucker Biven (1.0 IP, 2 K, 1 BB) came in to shut the door in the ninth.

Next up for Louisville, they'll continue their weekend series against Northwestern with game two. First pitch is slated for Saturday, Mar. 9 at 1:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ACC Network Extra and broadcast on 970 WGTK.