LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sophomore righthander Shay Smiddy had a career-best seven strikeouts and junior Devin Mann delivered a key three-run double as the No. 8 Louisville baseball team remained unbeaten on the season with Saturday afternoon's 6-4 series-clinching win against No. 13 North Carolina at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Cardinals moved to 14-0 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while extending the second best start to a season in head coach Dan McDonnell's 12 years in Louisville. Last year's College World Series squad set a school record with its 19 straight wins to begin the season. With wins in each of the first two games against the Tar Heels (7-7, 0-2 ACC), Louisville has won 27 of its 31 ACC series during its four seasons in the conference.

A native of Defiance, Ohio, Smiddy allowed just one earned run on three hits in five innings to move to 2-0 on the season and 3-0 in his two collegiate seasons. The seven strikeouts were two more than his previous career high of five. Saturday's game marked the first start of the season and the third of the career for Smiddy, who has a 0.61 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his 14.2 innings pitched this season.

Graduate righthander Austin Conway twirled a scoreless eighth inning before junior righty Sam Bordner earned his sixth save of the season and the second in as many games with a scoreless ninth inning. Bordner's outing marked the seventh scoreless appearance in as many stints this season for the Baltimore, Ohio native, who also has a 1-0 record and eight strikeouts in his 7.0 shutout innings of relief in 2018.

Mann, who has reached base safely in all 14 games this season, drove in three runs and pushed the Cardinals ahead for good with his bases clearing double in the third inning as Louisville overcame an early 2-0 deficit for the second consecutive game. Sophomore Jake Snider added a two-run double, had one stolen base and scored once, while sophomore Ethan Stringer reached base three times, drove in a run and scored twice. Junior Josh Stowers chipped in with a single, two stolen bases and a run scored.

The Tar Heels opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Kyle Datres connected on a RBI single to left field to plate Zack Gahagan before an error by the Cardinals allowed the second run to score.

Louisville wasted little time with its answer as Mann delivered a two-out, three-run double in the bottom of the third for the 3-2 lead. Stringer walked, sophomore Tyler Fitzgerald reached on a fielder's choice and Snider walked before Mann drove all three runners home when he sent a 3-2 offering from Austin Bergner into left center for his fourth double of the season.

The Cardinals added to the cushion with a trio of runs in the fourth inning. Stringer drove sophomore Justin Lavey home with a RBI single through the left side for the first inning of the frame. Later in the inning, Snider connected on a two-run double down the left field line to score Stringer and Stowers.

North Carolina narrowed the margin to 6-3 in the sixth inning on a RBI double to left center from Brandon Martorano. The Tar Heels added another run in the eighth inning on a RBI single up the middle by Ben Casparius. That was as close as UNC would get as Conway and Bordner closed the door for the win.

No. 8 Louisville and No. 13 North Carolina will conclude the weekend series Sunday at noon ET at Jim Patterson Stadium.

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2018 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL TICKETS
Season ticket packages as well as single game tickets for the 2018 University of Louisville baseball season are on sale now and can be purchased online at GoCards.com/bsbtickets, by phone at 502-GO-CARDS or by visiting the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office, located near Gate 2 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (2800 South Floyd Street) on weekdays from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m., ET.