The Louisville Cardinal Nine’s magic carpet ride to and in the CWS was, for all intents and purposes, crash landed at 2:34 EDT Wednesday afternoon.

Less than a half an hour after opening pitch.

At which juncture, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers had plated 5.

The Cardinals, who didn’t tally in the top of the 1st, had yet to get a guy out yet in the bottom.

How such happens at this time of the season is somewhat explicable.

To win a title in college baseball, a school needs depth, experience and strategic acuity. Luck helps too.

CC started Riley Eikhoff.

Sixth year senior.

6-2 on the campaign. 2.90 ERA. 63 Ks. 10 BBs. In 80 2/3 innings on the mound.

Dan McDonnell chose not to start ace Patrick Forbes, despite the fact he had four full days rest. (Forbes, who had an injury plagued season, did throw 100+ pitches in that last outing.)

Instead a fellow named Colton Hartman took to the bump.

He hadn’t pitched in at least a month. In fact, he’d hurled but 17 innings all season, 46 total in his entire collegiate career. 9.00 ERA.

He didn’t record an out, surrendering a single, two consecutive HBPs, a double, a walk and a three run double. Coastal grabbed another run before the half was over.

The Cards, as scrappy as they have been, were not going to overcome that lead. No team in CWS history had ever done so.

Against a squad working on their 26th W in a row, the end of the Cards season seemed a fait accompli.

At 4:51 EDT, after six innings had been played, the deficit 3-10, Bookstore texted me: “Start writing.”

So I have.

The Final: Coastal Carolina 11, Louisville 3.

 * * * * *

I am bummed. But far from surprised.

Hey, getting this far has been boffo.

Beating a school that hasn’t lost since early April, with a tired staff, was a long shot.

Hats off to these game Louisville Cardinals.

Stand tall. Be proud.

— c d kaplan