Louisville's Incredible Postseason Run Comes to an End

Photo Courtesy of Micah Beutell

Omaha NE– Louisville’s fantastic 2025 College World Series season has come to an end after the Cardinals lost to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 11-3 on Wednesday afternoon. Dan McDonnell’s offense just couldn’t overcome a nightmare start that saw Coastal Carolina score six runs in the first inning. 

Louisville pitching had been excellent all tournament, boasting a 2.72 ERA over nine games entering Wednesday with 99 strikeouts and a .227 batting average against. Despite the availability of Peter Michael and TJ Schlageter, Dan McDonnell opted to go with Colton Hartman as the starter.

Colton Hartman enjoyed a strong freshman campaign as both a reliever and the Sunday starter for the Cardinals, going 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA over 28 innings. Unfortunately, his 2025 has been brutal. His ERA ballooned to 9.00 over just 17 innings and was primarily used out of the bullpen during midweek games. He hadn’t made an appearance on the mound since May 17th against Wake Forest. His most recent start on May 6th against Vanderbilt had been his best of the year: 2.1 innings and just one earned run allowed.

Peter Michael served as Louisville’s Sunday starter for the bulk of the season before a minor injury forced him to miss some time. He returned on May 13th for a midweek start against Bellarmine. That two shutout inning performance along with his inclusion on the postseason roster suggested that he was healthy. Sources also confirmed that he was prepared to start in Louisville’s elimination game over Oregon State, but pitching coach Roger Williams and McDonnell opted to go with Brennyn Cutts. Michael would enter the game in the 7th inning with Coastal up 10-3.

After Hartman was unable to record an out, freshman Jake Schweitzer and Schlageter were able to stabilize the game in the early innings to allow the lineup a chance to scratch away at the deficit.

Despite the 6-0 scoreline, the Cardinals continued to create opportunities, but couldn’t quite cash in with a clutch hit over the first five innings. Garrett Pike and Kamau Neighbors reached base to lead off the 3rd inning before Alex Alicea rocketed a line drive right at the second baseman, who caught the ball and stepped on second base for a double play. 

Matt Klein led off the 4th with a double ahead of the Cardinals two hottest hitters. Neither could even advance him as Jake Munroe and Eddie King Jr struck out. After a Tague Davis walk, Zion Rose hit a sharp ground ball to third to end the threat. Neighbors advanced into scoring position in the 5th only for the Cardinals to ground out in back-to-back plate appearances. 

“We came up short today,” King said in the post-game. “I felt like we did a good job in the box overall, but just didn’t get it going when we should have.”

It was a nightmare start, but Louisville being 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position through five innings also played a major factor in the loss. Coastal was able to tack on two more runs in the bottom of the 5th to make it 8-0 before the Cardinals were finally able to score in the 6th.

While the offense smoked the ball all around the field in the 6th inning and scored three runs, another unlucky line drive right at an infielder robbed Louisville of a chance for even more. Coastal lifted starting pitcher Riley Eikhoff after he gave up a run on three straight hits to Jake Munroe, Eddie King Jr, and Tague Davis. Zion Rose roped one right at the third baseman that nearly led to another double play. Instead, it was the second out. They’d ultimately end up scoring two more runs to cut the lead to 8-3, but it still felt like a missed opportunity for more.

The first inning deficit combined with the 0-for-8 start with RISP was just too much to overcome when Coastal added more runs in the bottom of the 6th and 8th innings to make it an 11-3 final score. 

Although the season ended in disappointment, Louisville were a joy to watch from February 14th until the final pitch on June 18th. After two difficult seasons that saw them miss the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals delivered a season to remember that saw them end the year as one of the last four teams standing in the entire country.

Joy was the message Dan McDonnell stressed in the post-game press conference.

“Knowing we were in the postseason, there was a peace and a calmness there,” McDonnell explained. “There was a joy there. But there was a chip on their shoulder the way we finished. There’s a lot of similarities to our first trip here. I’m very appreciative. I have a lot of gratitude. Like I said, for me, the word is joy. I’ve got a lot of joy for this group and the journey they’ve been on.”

It started with Patrick Forbes dazzling on the mound against Texas on Opening Night in Arlington before Lucas Moore walked the Longhorns off in extra innings. That was their first of six walk-off winners on the year with their last being the Eddie King Jr sacrifice fly in Omaha to eliminate Oregon State.. The ‘Cardiac Cardinals’ enjoyed 19 comeback victories, which included their 8th inning offensive explosion in Omaha against Arizona to stave off elimination.

They ran the bases better than anyone in the Power 4, swiping a school record 158 bases heading into their final game. Lucas Moore stole an incredible 53 of 54 bases, becoming just the second D-I player to steal 50 or more bases while being caught just once. Against Florida State, Louisville racked up a school record 14 stolen bases in a 9-4 win.

As thrilling as their regular season was, it’s the incredible postseason run that will be remembered: the pitching staff’s resurgence; Eddie King Jr’s hot streak; dogpiling at home after their Omaha clinching win over Miami. The chants of Eddie King Jr traveled from a Nashville Regional back home to Jim Patterson Stadium before making their way to Omaha. Even today, when King cut down a runner at third base with a strong throw from right field, the chants rang down from the stands.

The three year starter who came back for his senior season will leave Omaha as a certified Louisville legend after going 25-for-44 over his final 12 games with 13 extra base hits and 19 runs driven in. 

“I’m just grateful to be along for this journey and just be one of the people or one of the teams that can go down in the history books for Louisville,” King said. “This is a special team and I’m just sad that it came to an end today. I’m just grateful.”

Patrick Forbes and Tucker Biven will likewise join King in the history books after their gutsy performances in Omaha. The pitching duo and catcher Matt Klein came in together as freshmen. The three stalwarts weathered two difficult seasons and their efforts should be rewarded next month in the MLB Draft. Jake Munroe should likewise hear his name called.

While it’s important to reflect on the season and celebrate the memories, don’t for a second believe that Louisville is going anywhere. Superstars Lucas Moore, Zion Rose, and Tague Davis will return alongside the talented Alex Alicea.  

Eddie King Jr shared his message for the youngsters who will return for the Cardinals next season.

“Keep working. This year it goes to show just anything can happen. Anything is possible no matter what team, what school, whatever. Just bring the group next year together, build a special bond, and just go to work together. Just always fight. Never give up. Just keep doing it.”