Louisville baseball has some work to do ahead of NCAA Tournament. How Cards have fared
For the past few years, Louisville baseball’s NCAA Tournament appearances have been hit or miss.
After not making the tournament in 2021, the Cardinals responded by making the super regionals in 2022. But they missed the postseason in 2023 after finishing sixth in the ACC (10-20) and going 31-24 overall.
Despite opening the 2024 season by losing its first four games, Louisville (29-19, 13-11 ACC) is on a quest to get back to the postseason. Currently fourth in the Atlantic Division, U of L has already earned a spot in the ACC Tournament, which begins May 21.
Louisville’s freshman class has been a key part of its offense, making up half of the team’s top six hitters. Zion Rose is the team’s leading hitter; his .386 batting average ranks fourth in the ACC. After starting his first college season as a designated hitter, the Chicago native made his debut in the lineup by playing center field against N.C. State on April 5. He went 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs in the 11-1 victory.
Although Louisville is hitting an ACC third-best .318, the team has struggled defensively. The Cardinals have committed the most errors in the ACC (63). Their pitching staff is second to last in combined ERA (6.22) and has given up the most home runs (70). Lefty Evan Webster has been a bright spot, going 4-1 with a 3.17 ERA — fourth in the ACC — in 59 ⅔ innings this season.
Webster fanned a season-high eight batters in the Cardinals’ 5-2 win over No. 12 Florida State on March 29, though they lost the series.
Baseball America projects Louisville as a No. 3 seed in Tennessee’s region for the NCAA Tournament, though the Cardinals still have some work to do with seven games left in the regular season.
Here’s a look at Louisville’s resume and remaining schedule:
Louisville baseball’s 2024 schedule overview
Louisville bounced back from starting the season 0-4 by winning its next 10 games. With the regular season ending, the Cardinals rank 56th in RPI. They’re 45th in overall strength of schedule but rank 255th nationally in nonconference strength of schedule. Louisville is also 4-11 against Quad 1 RPI teams. Two of the 11 losses came via Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat at Vanderbilt and a 17-13 decision at Kentucky, ranked third at the time, on April 16.
How Louisville baseball has fared in ACC
Louisville’s performance in league play has been highlighted by sweeping N.C. State, ranked 19th at the time, and Boston College. The wins accounted for two of the Cardinals’ three ACC series wins, and the road sweep over the Eagles helped U of L jump 20 spots in the RPI. Louisville also won two of three games at Miami.
But U of L lost its five other ACC series, 2-1. Only one of the losses came by two or fewer runs. Of those opponents, four were top-25 teams when they played, including No. 4 Clemson and No. 9 Virginia.
Louisville baseball’s remaining schedule
Louisville has an ACC road series against 11th-ranked North Carolina beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. Having won four of their last five games, the Tar Heels are sixth in the latest RPI and first in the Coastal Division.
U of L wraps up the regular season by hosting Notre Dame, sixth in the Atlantic Division. Sandwiched between the two ACC weekend series is a midweek home game against Indiana.
How Louisville baseball can improve NCAA Tournament resume
According to Baseball America, reaching 16 ACC wins and being within the RPI’s Top 50 would make the Cardinals a lock to make the tournament. Sitting at 13 conference wins, Louisville needs to avoid a sweep in both of its last two ACC series and win at least one of them. North Carolina would be the target opponent to beat. Beating UNC would not only put the team at 15 conference wins, 16 with a sweep, but it also would give Louisville at least two wins over a Quad 1 team.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville baseball seeks to improve 2024 NCAA Tournament resume
