Making its first ever visit to Boston College, the No. 3 Louisville baseball team never found its stride falling 6-1 in Friday afternoon’s series-opener at Pellagrini Field.
The Eagles (20-14, 6-11 ACC) used a three-run third inning to gain command as shortstop Johnny Adams paced the way finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI. Friday’s defeat halted the six-game winning streak for the Cardinals (30-8, 13-6 ACC), who also suffered their first loss to Boston after sweeping the previous three games in the series last season.
Jacob Stevens twirled seven quality innings in the winning effort for the Eagles allowing only an unearned run on seven hits in seven innings to improve to 3-2 on the season. The one run for Louisville equaled a season low and marked just the fifth time in 38 games the Cardinals have been limited to three or fewer runs scored.
Sophomore lefty starter Brendan McKay suffered just his second loss of the season and dropped to 7-2 overall for Louisville after allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings. One bright spot for the Cardinals in Friday’s loss was sophomore righthander Sean Leland, who twirled two innings of shutout relief.
The Eagles opened the scoring on Friday after Nick Sciortino scored from third on a bases loaded walk by Adams. Sciortino started things with a single up the middle and moved to second on a single by Michael Strem before a walk to Joe Cronin loaded the bases.
The Cardinals evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning on a two-out RBI single from sophomore catcher Colby Fitch. After reaching base on a one-out throwing error by second baseman Jake Palomaki, junior outfielder Colin Lyman moved to second on a groundout before scoring when Fitch sent a 3-1 pitch into centerfield for his 24th RBI of the season.
Boston College answered in the bottom of the third with a trio of runs to move back ahead for good at 4-1. Adams delivered the biggest hit of the inning with his one-out, two-run single to right field to score Strem and Cronin. Logan Hoggarth followed with a RBI sacrifice fly to right to send Gian Martellini home for the third run of the frame.
The advantage for the Eagles increased to 6-1 in the sixth after the home club scored two runs against freshman righty Sam Bordner. Palomaki drove Gabriel Hernandez home with a RBI double before scoring the second run of the inning from third on a safety squeeze bunt by Strem.
The Cardinals and Eagles will continue their weekend series Saturday at 1:30 p.m., ET, while Sunday’s finale is slated for a noon start.
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