By Conner Farrell–
In the first game of today’s double-header, the Cards outlasted the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-3 in 11 innings on Nick Solak’s game winning two-run home run.
Louisville’s Kyle Funkhouser pitched eight innings and had two strike-outs. The game remained scoreless until the seventh inning when Notre Dame’s Zak Kutsulis had a one-run home-run. Louisville’s Danny Rosenbaum answered with a one-run home-run in the bottom of the seventh.
Devin Hairston struck out in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the game tied, leaving three runners on base. In the top of the tenth inning, Notre Dame’s Lane Richards singled to center to give the Irish a one-run lead. The Cards responded in the bottom of the tenth when Will Smith walked to score in a run.
The Irish scored to break the tie in the top of the 11th inning as Kutsulis doubled and completed the hitting cycle. In the bottom of the 11th, Solak homered to centerfield. This is the first walk-off win of the season for the Cardinals. Closing pitcher Zack Burdi recorded his first win of the season.
The Cardinals improved to 12-2 on the year with an 8-2 win over Notre Dame in the second game of the double-header.
Brendan McKay pitched over six innings, striking out 13 hitters and holding Notre Dame to three hits and no runs.
Photo by Wade Morgen / The Louisville Cardinal
