# 2017 Louisville Cardinals baseball team

The 2017 Louisville Cardinals baseball team represented the University of Louisville during the 2017 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cardinals played their home games at Jim Patterson Stadium as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Dan McDonnell, in his eleventh year at Louisville.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Cardinals were selected to host their fifth consecutive NCAA Regional. The Cardinals would win both the Louisville Regional and Louisville Super Regional and receive an invitation to the 2017 College World Series before eventually losing to TCU by a score of 3–4. Five players from the team, including Brendan McKay, were selected in the 2017 MLB Draft.

## Previous season

In 2016, the Cardinals finished as champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference with a record of 46–10, 22–8 in conference play, in their second season in the conference. They qualified for the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament, where they played in Division B of inter-conference tournament play. The Cardinals would finish 1–2 in the tournament, not advancing to the conference tournament finals.
With the Cardinals finishing the season as regular season champs of the Atlantic Division of the ACC, they would qualify for the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, and were selected as hosts of the Louisville regional and Louisville Super Regional, if they advanced to that round. The Cardinals would wins three straight matches in the Louisville Regional and would advance to the Super Regional (of which they were hosts) by defeating Western Michigan 6–1, Ohio State 15–3, and Wright State 3–1. In the Super Regional, Louisville hosted UC Santa Barbara in a best-of-three matchup. Louisville would lose the first two games to UC Santa Barbara, ending their playoff run.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Louisville win |
| | Louisville loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Louisville team member |
2017 Louisville Cardinals baseball game log :
Regular season :
February
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
February 17vs. Alabama State#11Spectrum Field • Clearwater, FLW 7–1McKay (1–0)Howe (0–1)Hoeing (1)4551–0
February 18vs. Maryland#11Spectrum Field • Clearwater, FLW 10–7Sparger (1–0)Bloom (0–1)Henzman (1)6522–0
February 19vs. Ball State#11Spectrum Field • Clearwater, FLW 10–4Hummel (1–0)Marquardt (0–1)None 6093–0
February 22vs. Eastern Kentucky#11Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 19–3Martin (1–0)Ford (0–1)None2,1544–0
February 24Omaha#11Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 7–2McKay (2–0)Murphy (0–2)None1,8625–0
February 25Omaha#11Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 10–0McClure (1–0)Binger (1–1)None8256–0
February 26Omaha#11Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 6–0McAvene (1–0)Suponchick (0–2)None1,0567–0 :
March
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
March 1Morehead State#6Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 20–2Sparger (2–0)Stambaugh (0–1)None9298–0
March 3Eastern Michigan#6Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 13–0Bennett (1–0)Mattson (2–1)None9369–0
March 4Eastern Michigan#6Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 3–2Thompson (1–0)Feldman (0–2)None1,07710–0
March 5Eastern Michigan#6Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 8–7Elliott (1–0)Feldman (0–3)Sparger (1)3,47511–0
March 7Eastern Kentucky#5Turkey Hughes Field • Richmond, KYPostponed
March 8Fort Wayne#5Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 12–2Bordner (1–0)Helm (1–1)None1,08412–0
March 10Pittsburgh#5Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 3–0McKay (3–0)Mitchell (0–2)Henzman (2)99513–01–0
March 11Pittsburgh#5Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 8–2McClure (2–0)Pidich (2–1)None89414–02–0
March 12Pittsburgh#5Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 3–1Bennett (2–0)Falk (2–1)Henzman (3)1,01715–03–0
March 15Xavier#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 13–4Martin (2–0)Astle (1–1)None88316–03–0
March 17Boston College#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 6–0McKay (4–0)Stevens (2–1)None62017–04–0
March 18Boston College#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 6–4McClure (3–0)Gill (1–4)Henzman (4)95818–05–0
March 19Boston College#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 5–3Martin (3–0)Metzdor (1–3)Henzman (5)96819–06–0
March 21at Cincinnati#2Marge Schott Stadium • Cincinnati, OHL 3–6Kroger (1–0)McAvene (1–1)Orndorff (4)1,70919–16–0
March 24at NC State#2Doak Field • Raleigh, NCL 1–3Adler (3–2)McKay (4–1)O'Donnell (1)2,82419–26–1
March 25at NC State#2Doak Field • Raleigh, NCW 7–6Henzman (1–0)Staley (1–1)None3,04820–27–1
March 26at NC State#2Doak Field • Raleigh, NCW 8–1Bennett (3–0)Wilder (0–2)None2,82121–28–1
March 28Western Kentucky#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 11–1Hummel (2–0)Bruner (0–1)None3,29422–28–1
March 31at Virginia#2Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VAW 5–2Wolf (1–0)Harrington (1–1)Henzman (6)2,92823–29–1 :
April
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
April 1at Virginia#2Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VAL 2–11Bettinger (4–0)McClure (3–1)None3,83223–39–2
April 2at Virginia#2Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VAW 4–3Wolf (2–0)Doyle (1–1)Henzman (7)3,73624–310–2
April 4Kentucky#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 5–3Hummel (3–0)Thompson (2–2)Henzman (8)6,21025–310–2
April 7Wake Forest#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYL 1–2Dunshee (6–1)McKay (4–2)Roberts (3)2,93125–410–3
April 8Wake Forest#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 7–6Sparger (3–0)McCarren (2–3)Henzman (9)3,10426–411–3
April 9Wake Forest#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 7–5Wolf (3–0)Roberts (1–1)Bordner (1)4,05627–412–3
April 11Purdue#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 13–2Hummel (4–0)Dellinger (1–3)None1,57928–412–3
April 13at Georgia Tech#2Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GAW 3–0McKay (5–2)Schniederjans (0–2)Henzman (10)1,21529–413–3
April 14at Georgia Tech#2Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GAW 10–1McClure (4–1)Curry (3–4)None1,22030–414–3
April 15at Georgia Tech#2Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GAW 5–4Wolf (4–0)Ryan (3–2)Henzman (11)1,35831–415–3
April 18at Kentucky#2Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KYL 7–11Thompson (4–2)Hummel (4–1)None4,01831–515–3
April 21Duke#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYL 3–5Stallings (4–3)McKay (5–3)Labosky (5)1,53331–615–4
April 22Duke#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 7–5Wolf (5–0)Ziemba (2–3)Henzman (12)81432–616–4
April 23Duke#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 10–0Bennett (4–0)Day (3–3)None2,15833–617–4
April 25at Eastern Kentucky#2Turkey Hughes Field • Richmond, KYW 14–4Smiddy (1–0)Carter (0–1)None89434–617–4
April 26Northern Kentucky#2Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 6–4Wolf (6–0)Jerger (1–3)Henzman (13)2,72935–617–4
April 28Toledo#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 5–4McKay (6–3)Calhoun (3–3)Bordner (2)95036–617–4
April 29Toledo#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 11–1McClure (5–1)Achter (3–4)None1,74637–617–4
April 30Toledo#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 17–2Sparger (4–0)Shutes (2–6)None1,85238–617–4 :
May
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
May 2Miami (OH)#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 6–5Henzman (2–0)Mraz (0–2)None1,73439–617–4
May 5at Notre Dame#2Frank Eck Stadium • South Bend, INW 2–0McKay (7–3)Bass (2–7)Henzman (14)51740–618–4
May 6at Notre Dame#2Frank Eck Stadium • South Bend, INW 5–1McClure (6–1)Hearne (3–4)None55741–619–4
May 7at Notre Dame#2Frank Eck Stadium • South Bend, INW 9–4Elliott (2–0)Guenther (2–1)None82842–620–4
May 9Vanderbilt#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYW 6–2Martin (4–0)Ruppenthal (1–3)None4,12043–620–4
May 12Clemson#2Doug Kingsmore Stadium • Clemson, SCW 4–2McKay (8–3)Barnes (5–4)Henzman (15)4,40544–621–4
May 13Clemson#2Doug Kingsmore Stadium • Clemson, SCW 6–4McClure (7–1)Beasley (1–2)Wolf (1)5,16445–622–4
May 14Clemson#2Doug Kingsmore Stadium • Clemson, SCW 6–4Bennett (5–0)Krall (7–2)Henzman (16)4,57246–623–4
May 16Indiana#2Bart Kaufman Field • Bloomington, INL 3–4Saalfrank (2–1)Martin (4–1)None3,07746–723–4
May 18Florida State#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYL 9–12Voyles (4–0)Sparger (4–1)None3,48746–823–5
May 19Florida State#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYL 2–8Holton (8–2)McClure (7–2)None3,35946–923–6
May 20Florida State#2Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KYPostponed :
Post-season :
ACC Tournament
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
May 25Notre Dame#4Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 10–3McKay (9–3)Hearne (4–5)None6,94547–923–6
May 26Florida State#4Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYL 6–2Holton (9–2)McClure (7–3)None8,84347–1023–6 :
NCAA tournament Louisville Regional
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
June 2Radford#7Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 11–6Bordner (2–0)Gerber (4–4)None3,76348–1023–6
June 3Oklahoma#7Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 11–1Sparger (5–1)Irvin (6–3)None4,06049–1023–6
June 4Xavier#7Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 8–7Henzman (3–0)Kirschner (4–3)None4,01250–1023–6 :
NCAA tournament Louisville Super Regional
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
June 9Kentucky#7Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 5–2McClure (8–3)Thompson 8–3None6,23551–10–
June 10Kentucky#7Louisville Slugger Field • Louisville, KYW 6–2McKay (10–3)Hjelle (11–4)Bordner (3)6,23752–10– :
College World Series
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordACC Record
June 17 or 18Texas A&M#7TD Ameritrade Park Omaha • Omaha, NEW 8–4McKay (11–3)Martin (7–4)None23,43753–10–
June 20Florida#7TD Ameritrade Park Omaha • Omaha, NEL 1–5Singer (8–5)McClure (8–4)None22,22253–11–
June 22TCU#7TD Ameritrade Park Omaha • Omaha, NEL 3–4Wymer (6–4)Bennett (5–1)–24,98553–12– :

## Awards and honors
### National / Conference Players of the Week

Awards :
| Player | Award | Date awarded |
| Brendan McKay | Preseason National Player of the Year | December 19, 2016 |
| Brendan McKay | National Player of the Month | March 7, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Pitcher of the Week | March 13, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Pitcher of the Week | March 20, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Pitcher of the Week | April 17, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Co-Player of the Week | May 1, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week | May 1, 2017 |
| Drew Ellis | Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week | May 1, 2017 |
| Drew Ellis | Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Month | May 8, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Pitcher of the Week | May 8, 2017 |
| Colby Fitch | ACC Co-Player of the Week | May 15, 2017 |

### Award Watch List

| Player | Award | Date awarded |
| Brendan McKay | USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List | April 12, 2017 |
| Lincoln Henzman | 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award Watch List | April 27, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | Semifinalist – John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award | May 12, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | Semifinalist – National Pitcher of the Year Award | May 12, 2017 |
| Devin Hairston | Semifinalist – Brooks Wallace Award | May 12, 2017 |

### Awards

| Player | Award | Date awarded |
| Kade McClure | Perfect Game Preseason All-American | January 10, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | Perfect Game Preseason All-American | January 10, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | Preseason First Team All-American | January 30, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | NCBWA Preseason First Team All-Americans | January 31, 2017 |
| Kade McClure | NCBWA Preseason First Team All-Americans | January 31, 2017 |
| Devin Hairston | NCBWA Preseason Second Team All-Americans | January 31, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | ACC Player of the Year | May 22, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | First Team All-ACC – Designated Hitter / Utility | May 22, 2017 |
| Brendan McKay | First Team All-ACC – Starting Pitcher | May 22, 2017 |
| Devin Hairston | ACC Defensive Player of the Year | May 22, 2017 |
| Devin Hairston | Third Team All-ACC – Shortstop | May 22, 2017 |
| Drew Ellis | First Team All-ACC – Third Base | May 22, 2017 |
| Lincoln Henzman | First Team All-ACC – Relief Pitcher | May 22, 2017 |
| Colby Fitch | Second Team All-ACC – Catcher | May 22, 2017 |
| Kade McClure | Third Team All-ACC – Starting Pitcher | May 22, 2017 |
| Nick Bennett | Third Team All-ACC – Starting Pitcher | May 22, 2017 |
| Nick Bennett | Freshman All-ACC – Starting Pitcher | May 22, 2017 |

### Coaching awards

| Player | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
| Dan McDonnell | ACC Coach of the Year | May 22, 2017 | |