LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — The Louisville Cardinals capitalized on a pivotal four-run fourth inning and a strong relief outing from Jake Bean to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 8-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference baseball Saturday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw the Cardinals even the series after dropping the opener Friday. Louisville improved to 17-10 overall, while Pittsburgh fell to 18-7.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the fourth inning, erasing a Pittsburgh lead and giving Louisville control for good. The Panthers had taken a 5-3 advantage in the top of the third on a three-run homer by designated hitter Sebastian Pisacreta, his only hit in four at-bats.

Louisville responded immediately in the bottom of the third with a solo home run from first baseman Tague Davis, cutting the deficit to 5-4. The Cardinals then sent nine men to the plate in the fourth. The inning was fueled by a combination of timely hitting, Pittsburgh miscues and aggressive baserunning.

It began with a single by Patrick Nugent, who advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third. After an out, Kade Campbell drove in Nugent with a fielder’s choice, tying the game at 5. Following another out, Matt Alicea delivered an RBI single to give Louisville its first lead at 6-5. Davis then singled, and Alicea scored from first when the Pittsburgh right fielder committed a throwing error, allowing Davis to advance to second. After a pitching change that brought in Joey Ciancimino, Bayram Hot singled up the middle to score Davis, capping the rally at 7-5.

Hot, the Louisville third baseman, was instrumental throughout, going 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Davis finished 2 for 3 with the home run, an RBI and two runs scored.

Louisville added an insurance run in the sixth when Hot again singled home a run, scoring Davis to make it 8-5. Pittsburgh’s final run came in the sixth on a solo home run by Jake Carrier, one of his two hits.

The Panthers threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs against Bean, but the reliever induced a game-ending groundout to second base. Bean earned the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. He entered with two on and one out in the eighth and stranded both runners.

Cardinals starter Colton Hartman went five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out seven to get the win. Pittsburgh starter Anthony Spizzoucco took the loss. The Panthers bullpen, featuring scoreless outings from Ciancimino, Chase Kriebel, Sam Bryan and Brandon Reiter, kept the game close after the fourth.

Pittsburgh out-hit Louisville 10-12 but left 11 runners on base. The Panthers also committed two errors, both leading to unearned runs.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday.