Box Score

Louisville, Ky. - Western Carolina jumped out to four-run lead with a pair of two-run innings in first two frames on Friday afternoon against tenth-ranked Louisville. However, a seven-run third pushed the home squad ahead for good as the Cardinals remained perfect on the season, handing the Catamounts a 16-4 road loss at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Three of WCU's four hits came in the first inning with the fourth coming in the second as the Catamounts were held without a hit over the final seven innings of the series opener.

Redshirt sophomore Justin Sparks drove home WCU's first two runs with his first career triple in the first inning as a part of a 1-for-3 outing, while redshirt freshman Bo Fricks legged out a triple to the gap in right center field that drove in a run as a part of a 1-for-3 performance in his first career start. Fricks plated senior catcher Spencer Holcomb who reached base three times including two walks and an HBP.

Sophomore Andrew Robinson drove home WCU's fourth run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning, finishing 1-for-2 with a run scored in the loss.

Louisville (9-0) answered WCU's four-runs with a seven-run third inning before stretching the lead to five with two runs in the fourth. The Cardinals finished its final three innings in which it took swings with a combined seven runs including two in the sixth and seventh before tacking on three in the eighth to provide the final tally.

Catamount starter Chase Walter (0-1) was the first of five Catamount arms to toe the rubber on Friday, taking the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts in three innings of work. Junior reliever Jake Moebius fanned two in two and a third innings of work while senior Jake Niezen collected WCU's fifth strikeout, allowing one hit in a scoreless eighth.

Louisville starter Adam Wolf (3-0) stayed perfect on the season, striking out seven in six innings while limiting the Catamounts to four runs on the four hits. Michael Kirian and Gavin Sullivan combined to strikeout out four in a combined three hitless, scoreless innings.

Five Cardinals recorded multi-hit games including a 3-for-3, four RBI day by third baseman Justin Lavey and a 3-for-6 day by Logan Wyatt, who doubled twice.

Game two is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with a 1:00 pm first pitch. The game can be seen on the ACC Network Extra through WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.