Tagged: Drew Ellis

One Year Down

Louisville Cardinals vs. Northern Kentucky Norse (NCAA)

Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY:  The 26th marked our one year anniversary of living down here in Kentucky, so we decided to celebrate with a baseball game featuring two Kentucky teams.  The Cards were hosting the Northern Kentucky Norse at Louisville Slugger Field (where the Bats play) for a special game.  This was our first chance to check out NKU, also.  I was fortunate enough to get these tickets for free, after buying tickets for the ACC Baseball championship here next month.  Free tickets are the best kind, and Trevor and I had great seats to watch a great game.The Norse actually came out swinging, and took a 4-0 lead!  NKU opened the scoring in the first inning on a solo homer run by T.J. Alas.  In the second, Chad Roberts scored on a passed ball to put the Norse up 2-0.  The Norse poured it on in the third, but Roberts hitting an RBI doubled, and then scoring himself on an RBI single by Mike Moffatt.  Louisville’s starting pitcher Bryan Hoeing didn’t last past the second inning, but his offense came around to bail him out.  Adam Wolf picked up the win for the Cards, throwing 2.1 scoring innings while striking out three.  Relief pitcher Sam Bordner also pitched two scoreless innings, while Lincoln Henzman earned the save by pitching a perfect ninth.

Offensively, Louisville was lead by Drew Ellis and Zeke Pinkham.  Ellis started the comeback with a solo home run of his own in the fourth inning. He then followed that up with a two-run moon shot in the fifth to put the Cards up 5-4.  Both players were 2-4 on the day with three RBI, with Pinkham getting his first career home run.  Charlie Jerger ended up taking the loss for Northern Kentucky.  It was a funny game with some controversial calls, with both head coaches making appearances out on the field.  Norse head coach Todd Asalon was even ejected with the classic chest bump and dirt kicking.  Final: Cardinals 6, Norse 4.

A fun game for Trevor and I.  Some of the photos don’t show it, but there was a decent crowd and they were entertaining and good natured themselves.  We actually don’t have any ballgames planned out between now and the end of May, but that doesn’t mean we won’t find one to take in.  Most likely it will be the Cards or Bats, but the Brian playing on the weekends sometimes it’s hard to find one that fits our schedule.

Photos property of Minoring In Baseball

Cardinals set school record

Louisville Cardinals vs. Boston College Eagles (NCAA/ACC)

Jim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  We were finally able to make it to another Louisville game, and what a historic game it was!  Brian was nice enough to let me watch some of the game from the stands, before heading to the outfield so he could play on the park.  I can’t complain too much, though as the best food is grilled in the outfield bleachers.  The #1 ranked cards were riding a 17 game winning streak after beating Boston College in the first game of the series 6-0 Friday night.  On Saturday, Louisville would put up another six, but the Eagles didn’t go away as quietly.

On the mound, Kade McClure pitched well with nine strikeouts and only giving up one earned run.  Louisville native Riley Thompson came in for relief, and got rocked a bit, giving up 3 earned runs and making things interesting the later innings.  Adam Wolf and Lincoln Henzman would shut things down for the Cards, though.  McClure still picked up the win, also.

Offensively, the Cardinals were lead by second baseman Devin Mann, who went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s.  Also contributing was Drew Ellis, 2-5 with one RBI, and Logan Taylor 1-2 with one RBI.  Their 18th win in a row is a new school record for wins in a row to start the season.  Final:  Cardinals 6, Eagles 4.

This was a fun game to be at, and the weather wasn’t all that bad, either. Louisville would also earn a 5-3 on Sunday, getting the sweep and extending the winning streak to 19 games.  The Cardinals will be hitting the road for the next couple of weekends, but we’ll be back here the first week in April.

Photos property of Minoring In Baseball

It Begins

Louisville Cardinals vs. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (NCAA)

32276979124_49f7940432_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  It officially begins, the 2017 baseball season.  As it was, Saturday was the coldest day here in Louisville, so obviously, that’s the only game we were able to make.   A little cold weather isn’t enough to ruin our baseball fun, however, (even though Brian looks miserable in the photo).  With Papa down visiting from Michigan, we were all happy to be at Jim Patterson Stadium for our first ballgame of the year.

32798958550_bfc5fcac05_z33139473066_f7070bbdba_zOn the hill for the Cards, Kade McClure earned the win, pitching six innings while striking out nine.  He only gave up one hit and walked only three.  In relief, Sam Bordner and Shay Smiddy preserved the shutout for Louisville.

32276979194_20dc8558e0_z32276979804_2dabf476b3_zOn the offensive side, Louisville was led by Colby Fitch, who went 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Also, Brendan McKay was being Brendan McKay, going 2-2 with a run and an RBI, while Drew Ellis went 2-3 with a run and RBI, also.  Nebraska-Omaha didn’t do themselves any favors, either, committing four errors.  In the end, it was a blowout and a shutout for the Cardinals.  Final: Cardinals 10, Mavericks 0.

33139450046_495b43306d_zDespite the cool temperatures, it was a fun day of baseball, and it wasn’t over with the Cards. We had to rush back to the OC, so Brian could take part in his Little League evaluation, as the draft was on Sunday.  Here’s a photo below from his eval.  Not sure when we’ll see Louisville at home next, but have plans to visit Lexington in a couple of weeks.  As for me, I’m just glad the baseball season has begun.

33080271966_397d24d0b9_zPhotos property of Minoring In Baseball

Kold in Kentucky

Louisville Cardinals vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (NCAA/ACC)

26949360061_f7db084c0a_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  Well, I thought it would be a little bit warmer here in Kentucky, but last weekend was a little bit cool.  With cold, nasty, rainy weather blasting the Midwest lately, I guess I can’t complain too much, as I’m sure we have it better than others.  While the temp was a little on the cold side, the Louisville Cardinals baseball team stayed hot.  Hosting ACC rival North Carolina State, we were able to get downtown and see the middle game of the series.  I brought the boys with, and as usual Brian decided to head to the playground.

26923501582_497fb20fd1_zSo, we’re back in the outfield, and that’s where we watched most of the game from.  The first half of the game was definitely a pitchers’ duel.  On the bump for the Cards, Drew Harrington picked up the win to improve his record to 10-1.  He pitched seven innings allowing two runs, walking one, and striking out seven.   Zack Burdi can in to pitch the ninth and earn the save, striking out all three batters!

26412021364_d5d64025c9_z26497252404_ff178502db_z26828775970_c42e349e4a_zLouisville was led offensively by Brendan McKay, going 2-4 with an RBI.  Drew Ellis went 2-2 with a run scored and a RBI.  All the Cards runs were scored in the fifth inning.  Final:  Cardinals 4, Wolfpack 2.

27034461911_4e1484b31d_z27034463991_e2ac055654_z27034453401_bb4311b9a9_zU of L is currently on a 19 game home winning streak, counting there win over Indiana last night.  They ended up sweeping 10th ranked NC State, winning 2-0 on Friday, and 6-1 on Sunday.  They don’t have any more regular season home games scheduled, but I’m hoping they’ll host a NCAA Regional after the ACC tournament is over.  I didn’t make a video during the game, but Trevor and I did make it on TV!  I re-watched the game after we got home, and found us in the upper left hand corner:

26743746320_ef00a880b0_zPhotos property of Minoring In Baseball