LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — The Louisville Cardinals erupted for 11 runs across the second and third innings, powered by a six-RBI day from first baseman Tague Davis, to rout the Seton Hall Pirates 16-1 on Friday afternoon and evening at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The game, which started in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, was a stark contrast to the narrow victory projected by pregame simulations. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 7-6 Louisville win, but the Cardinals’ offense rendered that prediction obsolete early.

After a quiet first inning, the Cardinals (8-5) broke the game open in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on shaky Seton Hall defense. With the score tied 0-0, Louisville sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs, only one of which was earned. The inning was prolonged by a critical fielding error by the Pirates’ second baseman. Davis delivered the biggest blow, a three-run double that cleared the bases. Griffin Crain added an RBI single to cap the outburst, staking Louisville to a 7-0 lead.

Seton Hall (4-5) scratched out its lone run in the top of the third when shortstop Nick Tomasetto doubled home Jake Lopez, making it 7-1.

Any notion of a Pirates comeback was extinguished in the bottom of the third as Louisville batted around again, plating seven more runs. Davis launched a three-run homer to right field, his second extra-base hit of the game, giving him six RBIs. Two batters later, Crain connected for a two-run shot to right-center, pushing the lead to 14-1 and ending the day for Pirates starter Steven Svenson.

The most important sequence of the game was Louisville’s seven-run second inning, which transformed a scoreless pitchers’ duel into a decisive rout. The frame, fueled by Davis’s bases-clearing double and aided by a Seton Hall error, established a commanding lead from which the Pirates never recovered.

Cardinals starter Ethan Eberle earned the win, working five innings and allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out seven. The Louisville bullpen, featuring Tanner Thomas and Anthony Karbowski, combined for two scoreless innings of relief.

For Seton Hall, relievers Matt Pontari and John Donahue provided stability after the early trouble, each throwing scoreless outings. Pontari pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts, and Donahue followed with 1 2/3 hitless innings.

Louisville tallied 11 hits in the game, while Seton Hall managed seven. Drew Freeman, who pinch-ran for Davis, added an RBI double in the sixth inning for the Cardinals’ final run.

The victory moves Louisville above .500 on the season, while Seton Hall falls to 4-5. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.