OMAHA, Nebraska — In a thrilling conclusion to their matchup, Zion Rose’s key two-run single propelled the Louisville Cardinals to an 8-3 victory over the Arizona Wildcats, marking their first lead during a decisive six-run eighth inning. This victory eliminated Arizona from the Men’s College World Series.
The Cardinals, now boasting a season record of 41-23, have showcased their resilience with 19 come-from-behind wins, setting them up for another elimination game on Tuesday against the loser of the Coastal Carolina vs. Oregon State game.
Arizona, finishing the season at 44-21, faces a disheartening streak of six consecutive losses in the MCWS over their last three appearances since 2016.
Despite an early deficit of 3-1, Louisville struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the third to fifth innings. Frustrated, Coach Dan McDonnell addressed his team with a firm message in the dugout, seeking to ignite their performance.
“When I’m not happy, they’re going to know it,” McDonnell stated. “I was waiting for them to make adjustments, but it just wasn’t happening.”
When the runs finally came, they arrived in devastating fashion.
After Lucas Moore’s sacrifice fly in the seventh cut the deficit to one, Arizona’s pitching unexpectedly faltered in the eighth. With the first two Cardinal batters reaching base against national Stopper of the Year Tony Pluta, Tague Davis’ blooper filled the bases, setting the stage for Rose’s clutch hit that shifted the game’s momentum. Kamau Neighbors, the No. 9 batter, added to the scoring with a single, capping off a stellar 4-for-4 performance.
In a chaotic sequence, Garret Pike found himself caught in a rundown between third and home, scoring when Pluta mishandled the tag attempt. Neighbors then crossed home plate on a squeeze bunt from Alex Alicea, and Matt Klein added the finishing touch with a single to left.
“It’s disappointing to end this way,” lamented Arizona coach Chip Hale. “The only way to truly want it to end is as champions. We played hard, but our fundamentals fell short today. It’s frustrating as a coach; I take full responsibility for not having the team better prepared.”
On the mound, Tucker Biven (4-0) delivered a stellar four-inning performance for Louisville, navigating two singles and blanking Arizona in the ninth inning. The Cardinals are now a remarkable 26-0 when leading after eight innings and have amassed a 203-5-1 record since 2019.
Adonys Guzman initiated Arizona’s scoring early with a single, later hitting his second NCAA tournament homer in the third, giving his team a brief two-run lead.
Freshman Smith Bailey continued to impress on the mound for Arizona, throwing six strong innings in his fifth start out of six, finishing with a 2.50 ERA over 18 postseason innings despite giving up five earned runs.
“I’ll use this experience to step up as a leader for next year and aim for a better outcome,” Bailey expressed.
This encounter marked the second meeting between the teams this season, following Louisville’s dominant 13-1 win in February in Arlington, Texas, which ended due to the run rule.
“We commend Arizona for their fantastic season,” McDonnell added. “It’s tough to face such a strong team, and it really boiled down to one challenging inning for them. They earned their place here and fought hard throughout the postseason, especially on the road. In games like these, it often comes down to one critical moment or a single pitch.”