Louisville downs Texas A&M
Cardinals blow early five-run lead, but pull out victory
OMAHA, Neb. — Louisville had an early five-run lead Sunday against Texas A&M and national player of the year Brendan McKay of Blackhawk High School was on the mound. It should have been game over, right?
“We knew Texas A&M wasn’t going to fold,” coach Dan McDonnell said.
The Aggies didn’t. They pulled within a run in the sixth before sophomore Sam Bordner shut them down with three innings of no-hit relief, and the Cardinals went on to an 8-4 victory in the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Stadium.
“It wasn’t the best game of the year, but we understand now — as we’ve seen two on TV and played in one — that these games aren’t always the cleanest,” McDonnell said. “There’s too much competition. Everybody is playing too hard. It’s not supposed to be smoothand easy.”
The Cardinals (53-10) used six singles and a walk to build a 5-0 lead in the second inning against Corbin Martin (7-4).
Texas A&M chipped away against McKay (11-3) to make it 5-4 before Bordner entered and continued to flash his postseason dominance. He has given up no runs and one hit in his past 11 innings over four appearances.
“I think Sam’s been the X factor, a little under the radar,” McDonnell said. “When you’re in that first out-of-the-bullpen or middlerelief role, it’s just not as sexy, and you don’t get as much attention.”
The Cardinals added two runs in the bottom of the sixth and another when Colby Fitch doubled in the eighth for his fourth RBI.
Other game
Florida 3, TCU 0: Alex Faedo pitched seven innings, gave up two hits, and struck out 11 as Florida (1-0) defeated TCU (0-1). Nelson Maldonado went 2 for 4 to lead the Gators.