Box Score

Louisville, Ky. - Western Carolina rallied from a four-run deficit with a seven-run fifth inning on Saturday afternoon to grab a three-run advantage. However, the tenth-ranked Louisville Cardinals chipped away at the Catamount lead over the next two frames to knot the game at seven before loading the bases in the home half of the ninth where Logan Wyatt delivered a one-out, walk-off RBI single up the middle to hand the home squad an 8-7 victory.

WCU's seven hits were spread between six different players with senior Cameron Blaquiere finishing 2-for-3 to pace the Catamounts. Justin Sparks and Andrew Robinson both doubled for their lone hits of the game with Robinson driving in a pair, while Matthew Koehler collected a third triple for the Catamounts in the series, finishing with two RBI.

Down by four, Blaquiere opened the seven-run fifth with a single into left field before freshmen Will Prater both drawing walks to load the bases. Andrew Robinson then drove a double down the right field line to plate two, cutting the deficit in half, 4-2. His older brother, Caleb Robinson, closed the margin back to one on a run-scoring ground out with Luke Robinson reaching on an error that knotted the game at four.

WCU's rally continued as Sparks doubled down the right field line before Koehler traded places with Robinson at third with a two-run triple, giving the Catamounts a 6-4 lead. The scoring barrage concluded on Blaquiere's second single of the frame, a run-scoring hit to his positional counterpart at shortstop.

Louisville, which remained unbeaten on the season, got one run back in the fifth as Josh Stowers opened the fifth with a triple to right center field ahead of Jake Snider who lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 7-5. The Cardinals plated two runs in the sixth to tie the game, taking advantage of consecutive doubles to score the first marker with the equalizing tally scoring on an infield groundout, tying the game at seven.

In the decisive bottom of the ninth, ETSU used a Stowers walk and a Snider single, to put two runners in scoring position before a HBP to load the bases with one out. Wyatt then singled up the middle to plate the game-winning run.

Junior LHP Tristan Baker battled on the mound for the Catamounts in the starting role, scattering eight hits over five and two-thirds innings with three strikeouts against one walk. He limited the Cardinals to seven runs while on the mound, only four of which were earned. Freshman Zach Franklin (0-2) was saddled with the tough-luck loss, surrendering just one run on three hits over 2.2 innings, also fanning three against a walk and a HBP.

Louisville reliever Sam Bordner (1-0) scored the victory after stranding the would-be go-ahead run on base in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings. Bordner struck out two in one-hit relief in the winning effort. Cardinals' starter Riley Thompson was chased after four and a third inning, giving up five earned runs on seven hits with five walks against three strikeouts.

Three players posted two-hit games for the Cardinals, who finished with 11 base knocks in game two of the series. Stowers finished 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored, while Devin Mann and Pat Rumoro both went 2-for-4. Wyatt, who delivered the game-winning hit, finished just 1-for-5 with a strikeout.

The series finale is scheduled for a 1:00 pm first pitch on Sunday afternoon with WCU sending redshirt junior LHP Taylor Purus to the mound. Sunday's game will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra and can be seen on WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.