Louisville baseball hammers Eastern Kentucky, 14-2

The first midweek game of 2016 looked similar to opening weekend as Louisville continued its destruction of inferior ball clubs. Led by a career day from sophomore catcher Will Smith, the Cards beat the visiting Eastern Kentucky Colonels 14-2.

Smith went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI to lead the charge. Reigning ACC Player of the Week Corey Ray continued his hot streak at the plate, homering for the third time in as many games, going 5-for-6 and scoring 4 runs.  Ray was just a double short of batting for the cycle Tuesday afternoon.  Second baseman Nick Solak went 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI and third baseman Blake Tiberi went 2-for-2 while scoring three runs.

The Cards were led by Kade McClure on the mound, going five strong innings, striking out two while allowing just two hits.  McClure was relieved by Sean Leland and Shane Hummel who went two innings a piece a little shakily, but ended up getting the job done.

The premier out of conference series for the Cardinal Nine starts Thursday night at 5 p.m. at Ole Miss. The Rebels swept Florida International over the weekend and play Arkansas State Wednesday afternoon.  All three games this weekend will be carried on some form of the SEC Network.

The Cards will be back in the Pat next Tuesday against Morehead State at 3 p.m. Admission is free.