One Down: Cards Defeat Bowling Green 8-3

After a long layoff following the disastrous Big East tournament two-and-done, the Cards bounced back by defeating Bowling Green 8-3 at soggy Jim Patterson Stadium. Starting pitcher Chad Green went 7 solid innings, scattering 5 hits and 3 runs (only two of which did Bowling Green truly and officially earn), striking out 5 and walking 2.

Coco M'Fin Johnson got the Cards offense going, homering in his first two at bats in the 2nd and 3rd innings and adding another hit later. The Cards broke the game wide open in the 5th inning, stretching a 3-1 lead to 7-1 on some doubles, singles and heads up base running.

Cole Sturgeon closed the game for the Cards in the 9th.

The Cards will play the Miami Hurricanes, who defeated the potentially preoccupied Oklahoma State Cowboys 7-0 earlier in the day, at 5 PM Saturday. Miami's Chris Diaz went Friday for the Canes, so one of their other lefties will take the mound in a game with huge implications for the Super Regional. The winner of tomorrow's game has to just win 1 more game Sunday to move on.

Big game. Two quality starters and the driver's seat for the Super Regional on the line. Let's do this.