By Glypie Grider

The U of L baseball team dropped the final game of its weekend series to the Kent State Flashes and won their first two games Friday and Saturday in Cardinal Stadium. The Cards fell behind Kent State 5-0 in the fifth inning Sunday afternoon, and finished behind the Flashes 8-3.

Kent State’s Greg Hiller knocked a three-run home run to centerfield in the fourth, but the Cards broke through in the sixth inning. Louisville’s Michael Urti doubled with two outs, shortstop Chris Cates followed with a double, and outfielder Boomer Whiting singled to cut the margin to 5-2.

Sophomore Logan Johnson and sophomore Isaiah Howes  chopped the lead to 6-3 in the seventh, but Kent State added two more in the ninth inning with a pair of RBI singles.

Sophomore Justin Valdes took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks.

The Cards topped the Flashes 11-4 in Saturday’s afternoon match, but Friday’s 3-2 victory didn’t come easily.

Kent’s Kurt Eichorn drove in a single in the first for Kent State’s first run. In the second inning, Louisville freshman Jorge Castillo nailed the first pitch he saw in his first collegiate appearance into the seats in right field to tie the game at one. The game was tied at two in the sixth.

A wild pitch in the eighth proved to be the winning play for the Cards. LaFountain swung at a potential strike three, but beat the throw to first, and the runner on third made it home.

Griffin Bailey is credited with the win. Brian Halford earned the eighth save of his career.

The Cards scored three runs off five hits Friday, but the team’s bats were rolling by Saturday. Louisville had 11 runs off 12 hits.

“I was pleased with the way we hit the ball today,” U of L head coach Lelo Prado said. “We did a good job [Friday], but we really stepped it up [Saturday].”

Castillo totaled four RBI and broke an aluminum bat in  the 36-degree weather along the way. Logan Johnson led the way with three hits. Kent State had five errors to Louisville’s one.

Junior Skylar Meade earned the win in his second career start. He pitched five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

The Cards host Eastern Kentucky Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium, with free admission to all fans.