LOUISVILLE (Interstat) — Louisville erupted for nine runs in the first two innings and rode a strong starting performance from Colton Hartman to a 12-2 victory over Virginia on Friday evening at Jim Patterson Stadium in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

The Cardinals, who entered the game at 28-26, evened the series after dropping the opener 8-3 a day earlier. Virginia fell to 35-19.

Hartman, who had struggled in his previous two outings, allowed four hits and no earned runs over five innings, striking out three without walking a batter. The right-hander needed only 56 pitches to navigate five frames, getting 10 ground-ball outs and retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. His performance was especially critical given Louisville’s bullpen had been taxed the previous night.

Virginia opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Henry Becker singled to left field, scoring a pair of runs — the only runs the Cavaliers would manage until the seventh. But the lead lasted only moments.

Louisville answered immediately in the bottom half. Zion Rose singled and stole second, then Griffin Crain doubled to left-center to cut the deficit to 2-1. After Tague Davis struck out, Jake Hot doubled down the right-field line to tie the game, and Ben Slanker singled through the right side to bring home Hot and put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. The rally could have been bigger, but a line-drive double play ended the inning.

The Cardinals extended their advantage in the second. With runners at the corners, Rose stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch that also allowed Lucas Alicea to score from third, making it 4-2. Crain followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Rose. After an error at first base extended the inning, Slanker tripled down the right-field line to drive in another unearned run, and Louisville led 6-2.

Hartman continued to cruise. He retired seven of eight batters from the second through fourth innings, allowing only a two-out single in the third. Virginia’s best threat against him came in the third when AJ Gracia and Henry Tiroly singled, but Hartman got a strikeout and a foul out to end the frame.

Louisville added three more runs in the third off reliever Max Stammel. Rose grounded out to shortstop to score one run, Crain doubled to left-center for another RBI, and Davis doubled to right-center to bring home Crain, stretching the lead to 9-2.

The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the fourth, stranding two runners, and then pushed across a run in the sixth against reliever Noah Yoder. J.C. Elam doubled and scored on a single by Jake Moore, making it 10-2.

Virginia’s only other run came in the seventh. Becker walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Gracia’s double to right field, cutting the deficit to 10-3. But Louisville reliever Ty Starke entered and struck out the next two batters and induced a pop-up to end the inning.

The Cardinals closed the scoring in the eighth against Michael Yeager. Alicea singled to center to bring home Moore, and Rose singled to left to score Mowry, capping the 12-2 final.

Crain finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a walk. Rose was 3 for 6 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Slanker drove in two runs with a single and a triple. Davis had two hits and an RBI. Hartman earned the win, improving to 5-3 on the season.

For Virginia, Gracia went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Christian Lucarelli tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out one. But the Cavaliers managed only six hits total and struck out 11 times.

The decisive stretch came in the first two innings, when Louisville batted around in each frame, scoring six runs on seven hits and taking control of the game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Virginia 5, Louisville 7. Interstat’s ELO system had given Virginia a 56.20 percent probability to win.