By Sammie Hill–
Capitalizing on their early lead, the University of Louisville baseball team defeated the No. 1 ranked University of Kentucky 10-2 on Tuesday, April 24. This game, played at home, marked the first time this season that the Wildcats have fallen to the same opponent twice—the Cardinals defeated UK 12-0 earlier this season.
Stephanie Decker kicked off the game by throwing the first pitch. Decker gained national recognition earlier this year after performing a heroic act during the destructive tornados in Henryville, Ind. Decker, a mother of two, sacrificed her legs in order to shield her children from the storm. This selfless deed earned Decker cheers, whistles, and standing ovations as she launched the first pitch to begin this monumental matchup between rival schools.
“Nothing’s going to top this,” Decker said. “This is a dream for my kids and myself. I mean, we love Louisville and its hometown baseball, and that’s what we live for around here.”
Tuesday’s game mirrored the previous meeting of the Cardinals and Wildcats, for Louisville gained the advantage early, scoring three runs in the first inning and leading 5-0 by the end of the third.
“We’re apparently the best first-inning team in the nation,” said sophomore third baseman Ty Young. “Once we get those couple of runs in the first inning, we definitely chill out a little more, and we’re able to score some more runs and our pitchers throw strikes.”
Despite the entrance fee of $5—a contrast to the typical free admission—this event generated season-high attendance with 3,862 fans coming out to Jim Patterson Stadium to display their support and enjoy the rivalry game.
“I don’t want to make it more than it is, but I’ve always promised our fans I’m never going to downplay it,” said head coach Dan McDonnell. “If fans are out here in the rain, the largest crowd of the year, because it’s important to them. If it’s important to our fans, then it’s important to us.”
The Cardinals earned their place in history with this win, being the first team since 1999 to sweep UK in both regular season meetings.
“That’s two games in a row that we had young pitching that has not responded the way that we have throughout the course of the year,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “You have to give them credit. They did a nice job against us, and we did not respond well.”
The University of Louisville, ranked No. 2 with a record of 29-17, will play a three-game series at home this weekend starting on Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m.
[email protected]
File Photo
