April 15, 2014

Freshman Jake Sparger pitched 2.1 innings of shutout relief as Louisville lost despite allowing just one earned run on Tuesday.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Committing a season-high four errors while struggling to find the timely hit, the seventh-ranked Louisville baseball team dropped a disappointing 4-2 decision to No. 19 Kentucky on Tuesday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The season-high four defensive miscues by the Cardinals (27-9) led to three unearned runs for the Wildcats (24-13) and proved to be the difference. At the plate, Louisville succeeded in putting runners on base but was unsuccessful in driving them in finishing just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the loss.

Senior outfielder Cole Sturgeon (Owensboro, Ky.) kept the Cardinals in the game going 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI. Freshman catcher Will Smith (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in with two hits as Louisville lost for the first time in 22 games this season when out-hitting its opponent.

On the mound, freshman lefty Josh Rogers (New Albany, Ind.) was charged with his second loss of the season and dropped to 0-2 overall after allowing just one earned run and three total runs on two hits while matching a career-high with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Freshman righty Jake Sparger (Eau Claire, Wis.) followed out of the bullpen with 2.1 innings of shutout relief as the Cardinals lost for the first time in 2014 when allowing no more than one earned run.

Kentucky opened the scoring on Tuesday night plating an unearned run in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. After being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, catcher Michael Thomas moved to second on a single to center by first baseman Thomas Bernal before scoring on a throwing error by freshman outfielder Logan Taylor (Lexington, Ky.).

Louisville broke through for its first two runs of the night in the third inning while ending the game for Wildcats lefty starter Ryne Combs. After loading the bases with no outs, Sturgeon earned the RBI walk to score senior third baseman Alex Chittenden (Indianapolis, Ind.). Freshman designated hitter Nick Solak (Woodridge, Ill.) followed with a RBI fielder's choice to plate Taylor for the 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats answered in the fourth scoring two runs of their own, including one unearned to move back ahead at 3-2. The scoring started when designated hitter A.J. Reed was driven home on a RBI groundball to second base by outfielder Ka'ai Tom, who reached base on a fielding error by junior Zach Lucas (Louisville, Ky.). Later in the inning, Tom scored on a RBI walk by second baseman JaVon Shelby.

Kentucky tacked the final run of the night in the top of the ninth without the benefit of a hit after pinch runner Marcus Carson scored from second on back-to-back passed balls. No player for the Wildcats had more than one hit in the game while all five hits for the road club were singles.

Up next, the Cardinals return to the road for a pivotal three-game American Conference series at league-leading UCF starting Thursday at 6:30 p.m., ET in Orlando, Fla. The series will continue on Friday at 6:30 p.m., before concluding Saturday at 11 a.m.

Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.