Louisville Bounces Back, Takes Down Pitt to Even Series

The three-game tilt between the Cardinals and Panthers now heads to the rubber match.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:04am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the ebb and flow of the action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth between Louisville and Pitt, capturing the dynamic energy of their weekend series.Louisville Today

The University of Louisville baseball team defeated the University of Pittsburgh 8-5 on Saturday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium, evening the weekend series at one game apiece. Louisville plated three runs in the second inning, but Pitt responded with a three-run homer in the third to tie the game. The Cardinals regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run outburst, and the bullpen closed out the game with three scoreless innings to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win is crucial for Louisville as they look to bounce back from a slow start in ACC play. The rubber match on Sunday will determine the winner of the series, which could have implications for the teams' standings and postseason aspirations.

The details

Louisville got RBIs from Kade Elam and Kyle Campbell in the second inning, and a wild pitch allowed Campbell to score as well. Pitt responded with a three-run homer in the third to tie the game. Louisville regained the lead in the fourth with RBI singles from Alex Alicea and Bayram Hot, and a wild throw allowed Alicea to score as well. Pitt hit a solo homer in the sixth to cut the lead to two, but Hot's second RBI single of the day stretched the margin back to three. The Louisville bullpen closed out the game with three scoreless innings.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The rubber match between Louisville and Pitt is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET.

The players

Kade Elam

A Louisville player who drove in a run in the second inning.

Kyle Campbell

A Louisville player who drove in a run and scored on a wild pitch in the second inning.

Tague Davis

A Louisville sophomore who hit a solo home run in the third inning, his 15th of the season.

Alex Alicea

A Louisville player who drove in a run with a single in the fourth inning and scored on a wild throw.

Bayram Hot

A Louisville player who had two RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings.

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What’s next

The rubber match between Louisville and Pitt is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET. The winner of that game will take the series.

The takeaway

This was a crucial bounce-back win for Louisville as they look to climb the ACC standings. The Cardinals showed resilience in responding to Pitt's offensive outbursts, and their bullpen was able to shut the door to secure the victory. The rubber match on Sunday will be an important game for both teams as they jockey for position in the conference.