Louisville prevails over Texas A&M in battle of the bullpens

Danielle Lerner
Courier Journal
U of L’s Sam Bordner (13) delivers a pitch against Texas A&M during Game 3 of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.  U of L won 8-4.
June 18, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. —  Sam Bordner's 6-foot-6 frame cast a leggy shadow onto the dirt as he walked off the mound at TD Ameritrade Park with another three outs in his pocket. 

Shocks of platinum blond hair peeked out from under his black baseball cap as Bordner went to take a seat in the dugout. "The X-factor," as Louisville coach Dan McDonnell called him, Bordner would not get a chance to finish what he started – which, incidentally, he didn't really start. 

Bordner, the Cards' middle reliever, wouldn't get the win on the stat sheet as U of L beat Texas A&M in its College World Series opener Sunday night. Nor would he get the satisfaction of recording the final out. 

But he would get credit for being part of the bullpen that put the nail in the Aggies' coffin in a game that boiled down to a battle on the mound after Texas A&M began to mount a comeback. 

"Fortunately our bullpen stepped up, as it's done all year, and we trust our bullpen," McDonnell said. "And Brendan (McKay) handed the ball over to Sam and Sam to Lincoln (Henzman) and then offensively we kept competing." 

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Bordner and closer Lincoln Henzman combined for four perfect innings, each recording a strikeout en route to victory. 

"They just came right at the guys," said catcher Colby Fitch. "There was no dilly-dallying around with them."

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In contrast, Texas A&M went to its bullpen five times after pulling starter Corbin Martin after 1 2/3 innings. Six of the Cards' 11 hits were off Aggies relief pitchers. 

"We had a chance to make a run," Texas A&M coach Rob Childress said. "We just couldn't hold it with our bullpen." 

Texas A&M had just cut U of L's five-run lead to 5-4 when Bordner was called upon to relieve McKay in the top of the sixth inning. He inherited a runner on first base with no outs and forced a pair of flyouts after a sacrifice bunt, ending the threat. 

"Sometimes when you're third out of the bullpen in that middle relief role it's not as sexy. You don't get as much attention," McDonnell said. "But clearly Sam's been hot all year and we feel we trust him." 

This is not a new phenomenon for the rest of U of L's bullpen, either. The Cards entered the College World Series with a team ERA of 2.85 – third-best in the nation. 

U of L’s Brendan McKay (38) delivers a pitch against Texas A&M during Game 3 of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.  U of L won 8-4.
June 18, 2017

Adam Elliott, Chandler Dale, Bordner and Henzman are each holding opposing batters below a .200 batting average. Senior Jake Sparger (5-1) struck out a batter as he threw the final 2/3 inning of U of L's regional win over Oklahoma. Sophomore Adam Wolf carries a 2.37 ERA through 38 innings. 

The wealth of reliable arms the Cards have at their disposal mirrors a philosophy U of L has stood by not just on the mound, but at the plate as well: "If you live and die off a few players, unfortunately, you're going to fail," McDonnell said. 

U of L relied on its hitting depth through the end of the regular season and into the postseason. In the bottom half of the lineup, Josh Stowers went 6 for 10 with seven RBIs, eight runs scored and three stolen bases in U of L's three opening regional games. Colin Lyman went 2 for 4 with two runs and one RBI against Texas A&M. 

But leadoff man Logan Taylor went 3 for 7 with four runs in the super regional series. Colby Fitch, hitting in the No. 2 hole, went 2 for 4 and drove in four runs Sunday. 

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U of L's depth on both sides of the ball is what so far has enabled the Cards to adjust and compete in high-pressure situations – like when Texas A&M shakes the team's confidence by destroying an early lead. 

Perhaps the real secret is that there is no one "X-factor."

On Sunday, it was Bordner. On Tuesday night at the College World Series, somebody else might again finish what he helped start.

Reporter Danielle Lerner can be reached at dlerner@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4042. 

U of L’s Lincoln Henzman (15) delivers a pitch against Texas A&M during Game 3 of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.  U of L won 8-4.
June 18, 2017