Dan McDonnell: Louisville needs to ‘breathe and smile’ to mount comeback against Miami

© Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Louisville Cardinals baseball head coach Dan McDonnell is confident his team can get back into the game against the Miami Hurricanes.

The Cardinals found themselves in an early deficit, but they’re clawing their way back, as Patrick Forbes has taken over on the mound after Evan Webster started the afternoon. Forbes has done a bang up job against the Hurricanes so far.

“No doubt. Give Miami a lot of credit,” McDonnell told the ACC Network crew. “I think those were three two-strike hits, and Webby is around the zone. He’s such a good pitcher. He’s aggressive in the zone. Miami did a really good job.

“So having a fresh Forbes down there. Super talented. A much different look than Webster. We just felt like, you know, time to change it up.”

As for the Hurricanes’ pitching, Race Schlesinger has been in command on the hill, but McDonnell thinks the Louisville bats are ready to come alive.

“Like Webster, he’s aggressive in the zone. He’s got really good stuff. You’ve got to be ready to hit,” McDonnell added. “Yeah, occasionally he’ll hit a guy or two, but he’s very aggressive in the zone, and their center fielder made a top-ten type play. Third baseman, we hit it hard right at him. So you know, 3-1 in this ballpark, you’ve just got to keep playing.

“Forbes has definitely settled us down. The zeroes are nice. You just hope offensively, you know, don’t press. Just breathe and smile, and play the game.”

Alas, there’s a lot of game left between Louisville and Miami. We’ll see who gets it done in Tuesday’s action in the ACC Baseball Tournament.

2024 ACC Baseball Tournament pool, bracket, schedule

Pool A

  • No. 1 seed: North Carolina Tar Heels
  • No. 8 seed: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  • No. 12 seed: Pittsburgh Panthers

Pool B

  • No. 2 seed: Clemson Tigers
  • No. 7 seed: Louisville Cardinals
  • No. 11 seed: Miami Hurricanes

Pool C

  • No. 3 seed: NC State Wolfpack
  • No. 6 seed: Duke Blue Devils
  • No. 10 seed: Virginia Tech Hokies

Pool D

  • No. 4 seed: Virginia Cavaliers
  • No. 5 seed: Florida State Seminoles
  • No. 9 seed: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Pool Play

Tuesday, May 21

Game 1: 11 a.m. (ACC Network)
Game 2: 3 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 3: 7 p.m. (ACC Network)

Pool Play

Wednesday, May 22

Game 4: 11 a.m. (ACC Network)
Game 5: 3 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 6: 7 p.m. (ACC Network)

Pool Play

Thursday, May 23

Game 7: 11 a.m. (ACC Network)
Game 8: 3 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 9: 7 p.m. (ACC Network)

Pool Play

Friday, May 24

Game 10: 11 a.m. (ACC Network)
Game 11: 3 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 12: 7 p.m. (ACC Network)

Saturday, May 25 | Semifinals

Game 13: 1 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 14: 5 p.m. (ACC Network)

Sunday, May 26 I Championship

Championship Game: Noon (ESPN2)

All times are ET.

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