Louisville Baseball is #5 in the Nation according to the NCBWA and is #2 in the RPI heading into the final stretch of the season. The Cards began the season with incredible expectations as the nation’s #2 team…………but they haven’t done one very important thing this season:
Louisville Baseball hasn’t won a series away from Jim Patterson Stadium.
With most of the city focused on the 142nd Running of the Kentucky Derby this weekend, Louisville baseball will head to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to square off against the #14 RPI/#17 NCBWA ranked Tar Heels.
We’ve seen what UofL can do to teams in Jim Patterson Stadium. They’ve won 15 in a row at home. Louisville hasn’t fared as well away from the friendly confines. The biggest alarm came in its last road series when the Cards dropped 2 of 3 vs. Boston College in Boston. The Cards are giant killers in Jim Patterson with series sweeps over Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and Clemson and took 2 of 3 from defending champs Virginia.
Going to Ole Miss, Miami and Florida State and losing individual series are not cause for alarm. Losing all 3 of those and then falling to a mediocre Boston College team on the road in 2 of 3 certainly is. If Louisville Baseball wants to do damage in Omaha at the College World Series then the Cards need to figure out a way to take their best baseball on the road.
That’s why this weekend is such a huge opportunity for UofL. North Carolina is a very good club with a lot of respect nationally and the metrics to support the Tar Heels to make a run this post-season. Louisville needs to prove to itself and the NCAA Selection committee that they can get the job done away from home. Doing so would cement a national seed and also secure confidence internally that the Cards can win away from home.
Lost Series
February 26-28, 2016: Ole Miss 2-1 (Away)
March 18-20, 2016: Miami 2-1 (Away)
April 8-10, 2016: Florida State 2-1 (Away)
April 22-24, 2016: Boston College 2-1 (Away)
Won Series
February 19-21, 2016: SIU-Edwardsville 3-0 (Home)
March 4-6, 2016: Princeton 3-0 (Home)
March 11-12, 2016: Notre Dame 3-0 (Home)
March 25-27, 2016: Virginia 2-1 (Home)
April 2-4, 2016: Virginia Tech 3-0 (Home)
April 15-17, 2016: Clemson 3-0 (Home)
April 29-May 1, 2016: St. John’s 3-0 (Home)
Upcoming Series
May 6-8, 2016: North Carolina (Away)
May 13-15, 2016: NC State (Home)
May 19-21, 2016: Wake Forest (Away)
May 24-29, 2016: ACC Championship (Neutral)
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