Baseball

Beard, a senior and a two-year starter, has been with the Louisville program for four seasons. He boasts an impressive career, having played in 118 games with a .297 average, 11 home runs, and 88 RBIs. His performance earned him the title of Freshman All-American in 2022.

Among the 14 NCAA Tournament teams on Louisville’s schedule, two reached the College World Series, two others made it to the Super Regionals, and four more reached the Regional finals. McDonnell has consistently led the Cardinals to success, and this schedule will test his team’s mettle.

For Mingione, having such a special bunch of players makes him want success for them even more. He knows that this is the last collegiate season for several of these players, and he wants them to have experiences they’ve never had before. He stated, “For those guys who will never have that opportunity again, that’s all you could ever ask for. Now, it’s up to them to go and do it.”

Campbell had an excellent spring season with the Louisville Cardinals, where he was a key player for the team’s bullpen. He made 23 appearances on the mound this season and led the team in this area.

However, knowing the environment and having played there before may bring a certain level of comfort to the team.

This is a significant recognition for Payton, who is only the second Louisville player to be named a finalist for the award since its inception in 2000, following Henry Davis’ selection in 2021.

The players are not only happy with making it to the postseason but they are also determined to win.

Kentucky has a record of 36-18 and finished eighth in the Southeastern Conference, boasting a strong on-base percentage and an excellent balance in the hitting and pitching department

This is only the third time in Kentucky’s history that they will be hosting an NCAA Tournament regional. The last time they hosted was in 2017

Matt Klein and Christian Knapczyk each hit two-out RBI singles, bringing the score to 6-0. Eddie King Jr. added another three-run homer, his second of the season this time.