LOUISVILLE, KY — After three perfect innings from starting pitcher Jake Agnos, the Cardinals scored nine consecutive runs to seal the Pirates’ fate in a 14-1 loss to Louisville in game one of the NCAA super regionals Friday afternoon in Louisville.

The rain and the Cardinals poured it on the Pirates after chasing Agnos early and getting to the bullpen after the fourth inning. Agnos struck out the first three batters and sat down nine Cardinals in a row, but Louisville timed him up the second time through the lineup.

Louisville’s Tyler Fitzgerald doubled with one out, and that would begin a string of six straight Cardinal batters to reach safely with three doubles, two singles, and a walk that scored four runs in the frame.

In the fifth, Zach Barnes came into pitch for the Pirates. He would allow the first three batters to reach safely that included an RBI-single. A double would score two runs, a fielder’s choice and a single would score two more and increase the Cardinal lead to 9-0.

Spencer Brickhouse hit a solo home run in the sixth to put the Pirates on the board, but that’s the only run they could muster on the day.

A single, a triple, and a wild pitch would score two more runs for the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth. Evan Odum would come into pitch, and he immediately surrendered a single that was followed up by a double and a fielder’s choice groundout that allowed another runner to score.

Louisville pitcher Reid Detmers pitched a gem against the Pirates. Detmers is now in the lead for strikeouts in the entire country with 162. He fanned six ECU batters through seven innings of work, only allowing one run on five hits.

The Cardinals bats just would not cool off. In the seventh, two singles and a double scored one run, and a sacrifice fly followed after another ECU pitching change increased the Cardinal lead to 14-1.

The Pirates didn’t use their best arms out of the bullpen on Friday, potentially saving them for situations later on in the series.

The Pirates will return to action Saturday at noon in game two of a best-of-three series against the Cardinals with their backs against the wall; much like the regional in Greenville last week. ECU must win to keep their season alive.