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Louisville Run-Ruled by North Carolina in Series Opener
The Cardinals have now dropped the opener in both series to start conference play.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:20pm
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The University of Louisville baseball team took an 11-1 loss in eight innings at No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night in Chapel Hill, N.C. Louisville (15-7, 2-2 ACC) has now lost the opener in both of its ACC series this season. The Tar Heels plated three runs in the bottom half of the third and two more in the fourth and never surrendered the lead.
Why it matters
This loss marks the second time this season that Louisville has dropped the opening game of an ACC series, putting them at 2-2 in conference play. The Cardinals will look to bounce back in similar fashion to last week when they won the final two games against Notre Dame.
The details
After the Cardinals went quietly in the first on Friday, North Carolina (19-3-1, 5-2) got a two-out RBI single to start the scoring. Louisville then loaded the bases with consecutive walks and a hit by pitch in the third, but a fielder's choice ended the scoring threat. The Tar Heels answered right back though, plating three runs in the bottom half of the third and two more in the fourth and never surrendered the lead. The Cardinals were limited to just two hits on Friday night, their lowest total of the season.
- The series continues Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The players
Kade Elam
Jumpstarted the Cardinals in the third with a leadoff double into the left-centerfield gap.
Alex Alicea
Bunted Elam up to third base in the third inning.
Lucas Moore
Hit a groundball on the infield that scored Elam to tie the game in the third inning.
Ethan Eberle
The southpaw gave up four runs on seven hits over three innings and suffered his first loss of the year.
North Carolina
The No. 9 ranked Tar Heels improved to 19-3-1 on the season and 5-2 in ACC play.
What’s next
The series continues Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The takeaway
This loss marks the second time this season that Louisville has dropped the opening game of an ACC series, putting them at 2-2 in conference play. The Cardinals will look to bounce back in similar fashion to last week when they won the final two games against Notre Dame.
