In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday afternoon, the Louisville baseball team secured its place as one of the last four teams standing in the 2025 College World Series. Under the guidance of head coach Dan McDonnell, the Cardinals showcased resilience by staving off elimination for the third time in their last four games. Their latest victory came against Oregon State, where they triumphed with a nail-biting 7-6 win, avenging a previous heart-wrenching loss to the Beavers.
The game commenced with the Louisville Cardinals taking an early lead. They scored in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a clutch two-out single from Eddie King Jr., which brought home Alex Alicea, who had reached base with an infield single. Building on this momentum, Jake Munroe extended the lead with an impressive two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. Zion Rose followed suit, adding a solo home run in the fourth, showcasing the Cardinals’ powerful offense.
As the game progressed, Louisville continued to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with Kamau Neighbors contributing an RBI single in the sixth inning. Eddie King Jr. then added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, stretching the Cardinals' lead to 6-3. However, the real test came in the top of the ninth inning, where the Cardinals faced their biggest challenge of the game.
Heading into the ninth inning with a 6-3 advantage, left-handed reliever Wyatt Danilowicz took the mound for Louisville. Unfortunately, Oregon State's Aiva Arquette quickly turned the tide by smashing Danilowicz's first pitch over the left field fence. Following that, a single from Gavin Turley and two balls thrown to Wilson Weber resulted in Danilowicz being replaced by right-hander Tucker Biven, who had pitched just two days prior in a victory against Arizona.
Biven faced immediate pressure, walking Weber and allowing a single to AJ Singer, loading the bases with no outs. The situation appeared dire when a routine ground ball slipped under Alex Alicea's glove, allowing two runs to score and placing runners at second and third with no outs. However, in a moment of high tension, Biven rose to the occasion, striking out Jacob Krieg and Carson McEntire before getting Canon Reeder to pop out to first base, preserving the tie at 6-6.
With the game on the line, Alex Alicea redeemed himself by drawing a walk to kick off the bottom of the ninth inning. After a couple of failed bunt attempts and three foul balls, Lucas Moore reached base due to a catcher’s interference call. Then, Matt Klein executed a perfectly placed bunt that was misplayed by Oregon State pitcher Kellan Oakes, resulting in the bases being loaded with nobody out for the Cardinals.
After a strikeout by Munroe, Eddie King Jr. stepped up to the plate, ready to be the postseason hero once again. In a dramatic turn of events, King Jr. delivered the winning hit, culminating a rollercoaster of emotions from despair to jubilation in a matter of moments.
With this victory over Oregon State, the Louisville Cardinals have matched their best performance ever at the College World Series. A win against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday would not only allow them to set a new standard but also lead to a potential rematch on Thursday for a spot in the CWS Championship Series. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the stakes couldn't be higher for the Cardinals as they aim to continue their remarkable journey in the tournament.
