LOUISVILLE, KY. - Jimmy Nugent’s two-run homer in the 10th inning lifted Louisville to a 7-5 walkoff victory over Clemson at Jim Patterson Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals, who swept the series 3-0, improved to 26-18 overall and 10-11 in the ACC. The Tigers fell to 26-19 overall and 6-15 in ACC play.
Nugent belted a solo homer in the second inning for the game’s first run, then Jason Fultz Jr. blooped a two-out single in the top of the third inning to score Luke Gaffney, who earlier extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The Cardinals regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Clemson escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and double play to keep the score 2-1.
Nate Savoie responded with a sacrifice fly in the top of fourth inning to tie the score, then Ben Slanker lined a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bryce Clavon’s bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning scored a run. Tague Davis doubled Louisville’s lead with a leadoff homer in the eighth inning.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Tryston McCladdie lined a two-run single to tie the score 5-5. After Bayram Hot’s one-out single in the 10th inning, Nugent crushed a long home run, his second of the game, over the left-field foul pole.
Eli Hoyt (1-0) earned the win, while Justin LeGuernic (2-3) suffered the loss. Louisville pitchers combined to allow only five of 24 baserunners to score, as they stranded 17 runners on base.
The Tigers take four days off for final exams before hosting Boston College in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
