Cards Storm Back; Hairston Wins It In Walk Off

Mark BlankenbakerApril 19, 2016

Louisville Baseball found itself in a tough spot on Tuesday evening when it hosted #12 Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium. Dan McDonnell’s Cards had spotted its arch-rival a 5-1 lead heading into the Bottom of the 7th inning.

To get there UofL had stranded 6 batters, one of which was a bases loaded situation with 1 out in the 2nd inning and in the 3rd inning when Corey Ray doubled to lead off the inning and never advanced Ray to 3rd…..not to mention home.

Kentucky had wild luck when in the 3rd inning 2nd baseman Luke Becker & Right Fielder Tristan Pompey collided on a Devin Mann fly ball, the ball popped up enough for center fielder Storm Wilson to make a diving circus catch. Pompey would then sub himself out during the 5th inning (presumably as a result from the collision) which inserted Kentucky’s Marcus Carson.

Carson would go on to lay down a killer bunt in the 7th inning that stopped right next to the 3rd base foul line that would load the bases with no out. Kentucky would score 3 in the 7th….Later in the 7th Marcus Carson would stop a Louisville rally short when he jumped the right field fence to rob Brendan McKay of what would have been his 4th home run of the season.

But the Cards matched the Cats 7th inning with 3 runs of their own. Rosenbaum single to lead off followed by two wild pitches to advance Danny to 3rd. Drew Ellis would eventually walk and Logan Taylor drove home Rosenbaum for the innings’ 1st blood on a ground out. THEN COREY RAY sent one 410′ over the center field wall. McKay’s robbed HR was the only downer of the inning.

The 7th inning gave Louisville life. But Kentucky scored again in the 8th….and it was Marcus Carson again striking, this time with an RBI.

Louisville would answer with 2 runs of its own in the 8th. Hairston single, Wild Pitch sent Devin to 2nd. Danny Rosenbaum screecher down the left field line scored the runner and after another wild pitch Rosenbaum was on 3rd…….one more wild pitch scored him. Tie game.

The 9th

Anthony Kidston was once a promising young starter for Louisville Baseball and took the ball in critical situations on the way to the College World Series. He hasn’t seen much activity in a couple of years, but found himself on the mound vs. Kentucky in the 9th inning of a tie game. He came up HUGE striking out Troy Squires and getting Storm Wilson and Gunnar McNeil to fly out.

Louisville got its turn in the 9th with the perfect scenario. Tie game and top of the order having come back from 5-1. They had the momentum and were in a ‘no lose’ scenario in the 9th.

Corey Ray struck out, but Colin Lyman was able to draw the walk on Logan Salow. Lyman getting on base was a big deal as he is a very good base runner and that would be important on the game’s final score. Brendan McKay singled and Devin Hairston came to the plate with 1 out, 2 on in a tie game.

Devin Hairston is from Lexington. His brother, Dorian, plays for Kentucky. Last week when Dorian hit a Home Run in Lexington vs. Louisville he had words as he passed his brother rounding 2nd at short stop. Today, Hairston had an opportunity to have a few words of his own.

Devin didn’t need much time to single up the middle off Zach Strecker and a play at the plate would score Colin Lyman to walk off to victory. Hairston & the rest of the Louisville team celebrated just off the infield wildly. The Cards have won 6 in a row….and 5 in a row vs. Kentucky.