Cardinals Lose 8-7 in Walk-Off to No. 3 Clemson

Mark BlankenbakerMay 24, 2024

The University of Louisville baseball team suffered an 8-7 walk-off loss to No. 3 Clemson in its final pool play game of the 2024 ACC Baseball Championship at Truist Field in Charlotte.

Louisville (32-24) saw a six-run lead wilt away over the final five innings in Friday’s loss.

The Cardinals jumped on top just three pitches into the game, as JT Benson sent a 1-1 pitch into the seats in right-centerfield for his second leadoff homer of the year.

Sebastian Gongora struck out the side in his first inning of work and Luke Napleton added to the Louisville lead in the second with a long two-run homer off the scoreboard in left-center.

Later in the second, Dylan Hoy sprayed a double into the left field corner that drove Benson all the way home from first to make it 4-0 Cardinals.

Louisville added a fifth run on a Gavin Kilen groundout in the third and a hustle double from Hoy in the fourth made it 6-0 through three-and-a-half innings.

Clemson (41-14) plated its first run of the day in the fourth, but Gongora limited the damage to just one with an inning-ending double play. The southpaw then coaxed another double play in the fifth to get through the first five innings with just one run allowed.

The Tigers started their rally back in the sixth. A run-scoring triple chased Gongora from the game and a two-run homer welcomes Evan Webster to the game to cut the lead down to two.

The Cardinals took advantage of Clemson defensive miscue for a run in the seventh and Webster followed with a 1-2-3 bottom frame.

However, Clemson put a pair of runners on leading off the eighth to summon Tucker Biven from the bullpen for the Cardinals. Biven’s first pitch was deposited over the tall wall in left field bringing the Tigers all the way back to tie the game at seven.

Biven kept Clemson off the board following the homer, sending the game to the ninth tied up.

Louisville went in order with three groundouts in the top of the ninth and Biven got the leadoff man in the bottom half. The next three batters singled to load the bases though, and a four-pitch walk forced home the game-winning run.

Benson and Hoy tallied the only multi-hit games for the Cardinals, with Hoy picking up a pair of doubles and driving in two.

Louisville will now await the 2024 NCAA Tournament field announcement to find out if its season will continue. The 64-team field will be released on Monday at noon ET on ESPN2.