By Zach Kenitzer
Louisville baseball is officially back on track. After starting the year an abysmal 5-12 the Cards have won eight of their last 11 games and continue to claw their way back to a .500 mark on the season. After sweeping Rutgers last weekend the Cards took down Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday 14-4 behind a two-hit, three-RBI performance by leftfielder Isaiah Howes. Not only was it Louisville’s fifth win in a row but it also gave Coach Lelo Prado his 300th career win. Prado, who is in his 11th season as the Cards’ head coach, now trails only Dr. John Heldman, Jr., who amassed 309 career wins in 28 years as head coach of the Cards.
“I don’t look at my personal stuff, but this year we are really just trying to win a Big East championship. That is what would be the most fulfilling. That is what I would be proud about,” said Prado on the accomplishment.
After the historic win for Prado the Cards welcomed Connecticut for a three-game series to continue on what has been a strong mid-season push. In game one the Cards’ winning streak was halted as they went down 10-2. Cardinal starter Scott Jenkins was roughed up for three runs in just over innings of work. Along with taking the loss, Jenkins had his consecutive scoreless inning streak stopped at 17.
The Huskies’ Scott Norton paced his team on the mound limiting the Cardinals to just four hits and two runs as he tossed a complete game for his third win of the year. Despite the loss, the Cards played in front of its largest crowd of the year at Jim Patterson Stadium, with an official attendance of 874 people. When people come it makes it more fun,” Prado said, “and when students come out it makes it much more exciting for the players.”
Game two featured a nail biter with Louisville prevailing 3-2 in 12 innings. Senior B.J. Rosenberg threw nine innings of three hit ball, giving up just two runs in the fifth and continued on his with dominance of late on the mound. Despite his strong showing the bats fell silent, plating only two runs in regulation, including a huge single down the right field line by Jorge Castillo, scoring Daniel Burton in the in the bottom half of the eighth tying the game at two. Brian Halford came in for relief tossing three extra frames, giving up just two hits and striking out five which led the way for Daniel Burton’s 12th inning heroics.
After UConn’s Joe Smeraglino loaded the bases, Burton stepped to the plate with one out and delivered a soft single into center scoring Isaiah Howes and winning the game for the Cards.
Prado was clearly thrilled about the finish and attributed the win to his pitchers. “B.J. pitched outstandingly well today. He really helped and the main reason we won tonight is because of our pitching staff.”
-Andrew Krumme contributed to this story
