The Youngstown State baseball team was even with Louisville in the hit column but ultimately fell short by a final score of 10-2 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
The Cardinals scored in five different frames on their way to completing the three-game series sweep. Youngstown State drops to 0-9 on the 2024 season while Louisville improves to 7-4 with its seventh consecutive victory.
Ian Francis had three hits for the second straight game as he went 3-for-3 and drove in a run to lead the Penguins offensively. Trey Law and Derrick Tarpley Jr. each singled and scored a run, and Law added a pair of walks and a stolen base. Alejandro Covas recorded a single and a stolen base while Teddy Ruffner added a double.
YSU starter Braden Gebhardt took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of work. Nolan Kubilus allowed two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings of relief while Casey Marshalwitz surrendered two runs in 1.1 innings. Chase Franken was responsible for one run in the eighth after recording the final out in the seventh.
Louisville grabbed an early edge with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Eddie King Jr. hit a leadoff single and scored on an RBI double by Ryan McCoy for the first run of the contest. Isaac Humphrey, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a wild pitch before McCoy scored on a two-out RBI single by Michael Lippe.
Youngstown State got on the board in the top of the third inning when Law drew a one-out walk and scored on a sacrifice fly from Francis.
The Cardinals pushed their lead to 5-1 in home half of the third as Brandon Anderson was hit by a pitch and Luke Napleton followed with a two-run home run to left field. Louisville pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 7-1. Napleton hit a leadoff double and scored on a throwing error following a double down the right field line by Gavin Kilen. King Jr. brought home Kilen with an RBI groundout later in the frame to make it a six-run advantage. The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the seventh to build a 9-1 lead.
The Penguins scored a single run in the top of the eighth inning when Tarpley Jr. reached with an infield single and scored on a wild pitch.
Louisville tacked on a single tally in the eighth inning to provide the final margin. JT Benson was hit by a pitch and came around to score when Logan Beard reached on a fielder's choice.
Louisville starter Patrick Forbes allowed one run on one hit and three walks with six strikeouts over four innings in a no-decision. Ty Starke was awarded the victory after working 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Four Cardinals pitchers combined to allow one run over the final five frames.
Youngstown State will return to action on Tuesday with a midweek non-conference contest at Ohio. First pitch at Bob Wren Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
