Hard to believe the regular season is about to wrap up. You look at the record (41-12) and anyone would say "what a great year." If you've followed closely, however, and maybe it's just me, it doesn't exactly feel that way. Two losses to an average UCONN team. A home loss to a bad Xavier team. Fortunate to avoid the sweep at home at the hands of Georgia Tech. It took 11 innings in game 3 to avoid the sweep at Clemson. The Tigers would go on to fall apart after that game. The Vanderbilt game showed the Dores are on a next level. Then the two losses at UVA are sort of inexplicable. And, the IU win was kind of like the win over Clemson in basketball. They got the much needed W, but that one should have been over a lot sooner. Almost gave it away.
But, enough with the negatives. There were a ton of positives, too. Detmer's dominance on the mound, Binelas' emergence, big wins over some very good and ranked teams. The Ole Miss sweep, the Duke sweep, the seldom used Trey Leonard saving the day against Ga.Tech with a two out RBI single in the bottom of the 9th to win the game. That's what baseball gives you- great moments like that. Britton's pinch hit, game winning, RBI single in the 10th against the Rebels. Binelas' and Campbell's homers in the 11th at Clemson to clinch game 3. That was pretty fun. The sweep of then ranked #2 NCST @ NCST. That was huge. The Cards went undefeated against in-state foes (7-0). And, you know, earsky said it best in another thread. Those guys out there playing for Louisville baseball, they are truly a great bunch of guys. It's a team you can really be proud of. And, that's always the case, year after year. Coach Mac is an exemplary leader of the program.
So, here we are with FSU, who the Cards have historically struggled against; 4-10 since joining the ACC. FSU is good, as always. I think if you ask an FSU baseball fan, however, they'd likely say the season has been a little disappointing. But, they've got pretty high standards after having a coach who leads the NCAA in all time wins. There's a lot at stake in this series. Here's to the Cards shaking off whatever quasi-mini funk they've been under. Let's wrap up the Atlantic.
Go Cards!
