Dan McDonnell Louisville v. Dartmouth, Baseball

Cards Surrender Lead in Game 1 Loss to #4 Clemson

Mark BlankenbakerApril 26, 2024

The University of Louisville baseball team let a lead slip away late in a 12-11 loss to No. 4 Clemson on Friday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Louisville (24-17, 9-10 ACC) held a seven-run advantage in the middle innings on Friday, but allowed four runs in the ninth to take the loss.

The Cardinals grabbed a 1-0 lead on a RBI triple from Isaac Humphrey in the third inning. However, Clemson (33-8, 14-5) scored four times in the top of the fourth to grab a 4-1 lead.

Louisville would take control of the game in the bottom half though. JT Benson doubled home a pair to pull the Cardinals within one and a throwing error brought two more across to put UofL back in front.

Gavin Kilen kept the scoring going with a RBI single before Eddie King Jr. singled through the middle for two more runs. Then it was wild pitches sending the Cardinals to the plate, with three balls to the backstop adding to Louisville’s lead.

In total, Louisville sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs to lead 11-4 after four frames.

Clemson chipped away at Louisville’s lead over the final five innings, getting two in the fifth, one in the seventh and one in the eighth. However, the Cardinals took an 11-8 lead into the ninth inning.

The Tigers strung together a walk and five singles in the ninth, moving in front for the first time since the fourth inning and ultimately securing the victory.

Sebastian Gongora started the night on the mound for the Cardinals, allowing six runs (five earned) in four-plus innings.

Humphrey and Kilen each went 2-for-5 as the Cards tallied double digit hits for the 25^th time this season.

Louisville and Clemson play game two of their weekend series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.