By Chris O’Grady/The Louisville Cardinal

 

The Louisville baseball team won its opening series against the UConn Huskies, splitting a double-header Saturday March 27, after winning the series opener.

                  The Cards won the first 4-2, behind strong relief performances from sophomore Derek Self and junior Neil Holland and a seventh inning rally. 

                  Cards starter junior Dean Kiekhafer (2-1, 3.94 ERA), managed to scatter eight UConn hits over five innings, allowing two runs before yielding to sophomore Derek Self (4-0, 2.77). Self turned in a dominant 2 1/3 innings of work allowing only one hit, and striking out three batters. Junior Neil Holland (3-0, 0.39) threw the 1 1/3 innings to earn his team-leading sixth save. He also had three strikeouts. 
                  Offensively the Cards were finally able to get to Huskies starter Greg Nappo (2-3, 7.09) in the bottom of the seventh. After a single by freshman Cade Stallings, and walks to junior Drew Haynes and senior Adam Duvall, Nappo left the game for UConn reliever Scott Oberg. Senior first baseman Andrew Clark proceeded to double to the left-center field gap, driving home all three and putting the Cards up 4-2.
                  This was Clark’s first series back from a rib injury. Senior catcher Jeff Arnold drove in the Cards other run, in the second. Sophomore second baseman Ryan Wright went 2 for 4, with a double.
                  In the second game the Cards offense took a sabbatical, lulled to sleep by UConn starter Matt Barnes, who with the win moved to 4-0 for the Huskies. He threw eight innings, allowing five hits and struck out nine Cardinals.
                  Cards starter Tony Zych was less effective, surrendering seven hits and five runs in his five innings of work, though he struck out a career high 10 Huskies batters. Catcher Joe Pavone and first baseman Mike Nemeth homered for UConn. 
                  The Cards offense was finally able to get to the UConn bullpen and reliever Dan Feehan in the ninth inning, but it was too little too late. A walk to Clark and a double by Wright set up scores off a Phil Wunderlich groundball and a Stewart I­james sacrifice fly. Arnold followed with his second home run of the season, but UConn closer Kevin Vance entered to shut the door on the comeback attempt.
                  “There are definitely worse ways to start,” said Wunderlich.   “We obviously want to win every game, but it’s a good start for the Big East.”
                  The Cards return to action at Indiana on March 30. They resume Big East play against Villanova at home beginning April 1.