Carolina Beats Cardinals With Game 3 Comeback
The Diamond Heels completed a 2-run comeback Sunday in Game 3 to take the series 2-1 against the Louisville Cardinals. The Heels started off the series with an 11-1 run-rule victory in 8 innings on Friday with Cooper Nicholson driving in the winning run. The Cardinals completely stifled the Tar Heels offense in game 2, taking a 2-0 victory thanks to a masteful perormance from starter Wyatt Danilowicz. This was a phenomenal series between two great teams.
Game One
The Heels opened scoring wiith a run in the 1st inning, but the Cardinals responded with a run of their own in the 3rd. But the Diamond Heels responded with 3 runs of their own. Carolina then added 2 more runs in the 4th to make it 6-1 in favor of the Heels. Carolina added 3 runs in the 7th and then Nicholson drove in the winning run with a 2 run shot in the 8th.
Game Two
I was lucky to be in the building for this one. Wyatt Danilowicz put on one of the greatest pitching performances I have seen in person. Danilowicz went 7 innings and stayed under 95 pitches. The Tar Heels were completely unable to get any kind of clean contact his entire time on the mound. Almost every single hit went to a Cardinals defender. If you get the time, go out of your way to watch this game. Cardinals take it 2-0.
Game Three
Game three in this one absolutely delivered. The Tar Heels opened scoring in the 2nd inning with a Tyler Howe RBI single. Louisville responded with a run of their own with an RBI ground out, and added 2 more runs in the 4th. Macon Winslow added a solo shot in the 5th to make it 3-2, but Louisville responded with an RBI single in the 7th.
The Tar Heels then blew it wide open in the 8th. Jake Schaffner was walked scoring Tyler Howe. Gavin Gallaher added another run with an RBI single, and Erik Paulsen drove in 3 runs on a double to make it 7-4. The Cardinals gave the Heels a scare with 2 runs in the 9th, but it wasn’t enough. Heels take the series 2-1.
Moving Forward
The Tar Heels realy needed a statement win this weekend and they got it over a very strong Louisville team. Carolina now sits in 2nd place in the ACC standings with a 6-3 record and 2-1 series record. The Tar Heels have a huge matchup looming on Tuesday in Charlotte against longtime rival South Carolina. The Gamecocks fired their head coach last week, so this should be an interesting matchup.

