No. 6 Louisville Downs CU 7-2

LOUISVILLE, KY. – No. 18 Clemson totaled 11 hits and four walks, but No. 6 Louisville limited the Tigers to two runs thanks in large part to four double plays by its defense and clutch pitching in its 7-2 victory at Jim Patterson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals took a 2-0 series lead and improved to 28-7 overall and 12-5 in the ACC. The Tigers fell to 24-11 overall and 8-9 in ACC play.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Chris Okey’s run-scoring single in the top of the third inning, but the Cardinals responded with two runs in the bottom of the third set up by two bunt singles and an error. Louisville added two runs in the fifth inning, then Clemson scored a run in the top of the seventh inning. But the Cardinals pulled away with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and one run in the eighth inning.

Starter Drew Harrington (8-1) earned the win despite allowing 11 hits in 6.1 innings pitched. He gave up only two runs and one walk with three strikeouts. Tiger starter Charlie Barnes (3-4) suffered the loss, as he yielded eight hits, five runs (three earned) and no walks with four strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m., on ESPN3.

[View the story “Clemson at Louisville (April 16, 2016)” on Storify]