Louisville 5 UIC 3 (Baseball)

Cards win their first game and advance to a winner's bracket game against Illinois State (which upset IU 8-7 yesterday afternoon).

Starter Nick Bennett got in some trouble early, giving up 3 runs in the first two innings, but the Cards' bats evened up the score, tying the game in the bottom of the second. Bennett settled in and retired 12 straight after those first two innings.

Louisville moved ahead with runs in the third and fifth.

Finally, after UIC put two on with none out in the top of the ninth, UofL brought in reliever Michael McAvene, who struck out three straight and hit 100 mph for the first time in his career on the pitch that sealed the win.

Really great game to watch, even if a little dicier than I'd have like for an opener against a four-seed.

Cardinals and Illinois State will settle the winners' bracket at 4 pm today at Patterson Stadium. IU and UIC will play the losers' bracket game with first pitch at 11 am.

Rats. That title should probably mention that it's NCAA Baseball.

Rat took care of it.