The Louisville Cardinals are the only team that had won 50 games so far this season. They also are the only team undefeated in postseason play. Until last night anyway. That's when their neighbor from 175 miles down Interstate 65 put them into the loser's bracket game against the traditional powerhouse, the Texas Longhorns.
Vanderbilt just looked more ready to play from the onset of the game. Louisville started the game at the plate, and went 3 up, 3 down to the Commodores, only using up 10 pitches total from the starting pitcher Carson Fulmer. Then, in the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Commodores put their first runs on the board. They had filled the bases with 2 walks and 1 single, and then scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch by Cardinals starter Kyle Funkhouser. Now with runners on second and third, second baseman Dansby Swanson cleared the bases with a 2 RBI double putting Vanderbilt up 3 runs after just 2 innings.
They weren't done scoring yet either, adding another run in the bottom of the second inning when Swanson scored on a triple by left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Reynolds didn't even need a triple though, because Swanson had reached base on a single, then stole second base, and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Louisville catcher Kyle Gibson.
Louisville was ready to fight now. They came back in the top of the 5th ready to score some runs of their own. It was all thanks to the bat of shortstop Sutton Whiting, who hit a triple down the right field line, and was able to drive home first baseman Grant Kay. Whiting scored a few batters later on a ground out. The Cardinals had done so well to this point, they had to think a comeback was still possible, being down only 4-2 after 5.
They had another opportunity in the top of the 7th when second baseman Zach Lucas scored on a single by the designated hitter Nick Solak. Solak was able to advance into scoring position at second base because of the throw home by the Commodores defense. With this great opportunity to score, third baseman Alex Chittenden flew out to right field, and the Cardinals never got anyone else in scoring position the rest of the game. He was facing the new Commodores pitcher in the game, Adam Ravenelle, who only allowed one hit in the final 2.1 innings of play, striking out 2 and only using a total of 22 pitches in the game. The Commodores were able to tack on an insurance run as well, getting shortstop Vince Conde to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the 7th.
Vanderbilt advances to play UC Irvine in the night game on Monday at 8 PM EDT. Meanwhile the Louisville Cardinals will play the Texas Longhorns in a loser goes home elimination game on Monday afternoon at 3 PM EDT. Today at TD Ameritrade Park, the second bracket begins with the Big XII Conference matchup between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and TCU Horned Frogs at 3 PM EDT, and the Virginia Cavailiers face the Ole Miss Rebels in the nightcap at 8 PM EDT. Everyone is looking forward to another great day of action in Omaha on Sunday.