UofL baseball – UofL News Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:45:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Upgrades to be made to UofL’s Patterson Stadium /post/uofltoday/upgrades-to-be-made-to-uofls-patterson-stadium/ Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:22:26 +0000 /?p=56655 The University of Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors has approved an expenditure of up to $1 million for upgrades to the front entrance and concourse at Jim Patterson Stadium, home of the Cardinals’ baseball team since 2005.

Improvements will be made to the front entrance and third base concourse at Jim Patterson Stadium. The front entrance façade will be renovated, and the gates will be extended outward several feet, allowing enhanced access to the stadium. Six new columns with arched entry ways between them will be constructed at the new entry gate. New 42-inch-tall tempered glass railings will be installed at the upper balcony within the front gate.

The concourse on the third base side of the stadium will be widened, providing additional space for concessions while improving the flow of patrons. A new ticket booth and space for concessions will be constructed within 20-feet storage units. New fencing will be erected around the renovated structure.

Funding for the development has been secured through private donations, including a gift from Jim Patterson, namesake for the facility and a former UofL baseball student-athlete. The project will be completed in advance of the 2023 season.

Since opening the gates at Jim Patterson Stadium in 2005, the Cardinals have won nearly 78 percent of their games in the ballpark posting a 466-132 record (.779 winning percentage), including an impressive 33-7 mark this season at the corner of Third and Central.

Jim Patterson Stadium has hosted nine NCAA Regionals (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022) and six NCAA Super Regionals (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019). In NCAA Championship games at Jim Patterson Stadium, the Cardinals have produced a 37-10 record overall.

The board also approved upgrades to men’s basketball internal spaces at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center, not to exceed $750,000. The project will include upgrading locker rooms, lounge spaces, offices, front entry and signage throughout the facility. With an anticipated completion date of Oct. 1, funding for the project has been secured from private donations.

]]> UofL Athletics receives $3 million from Kroger for baseball practice facility /post/uofltoday/uofl-athletics-receives-3-million-from-kroger-for-baseball-practice-facility/ Tue, 27 Apr 2021 14:10:43 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=53307 Kroger Louisville Division, which operates 116 retail food stores in Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois, has provided a $3 million gift toward the construction of an indoor baseball practice facility adjoining Jim Patterson Stadium on the University of Louisville campus.

“Kroger has made an amazing difference in the community, across campus, and by supporting our student athlete experience,” said UofL Vice President/Director of Athletics. “We have a number of shared values that led us to today’s announcement of Kroger’s lead gift toward an indoor performance facility for our baseball team. With Ann Reed, Kroger has a visionary leader liken towho continues to lead the most successful baseball program in the country. I know this facility is part of Dan’s vision for our baseball program and Ann Reed and her management team were ready to support that vision and further enhance the partnership between our athletic department and Kroger.”

“We are proud to announce our gift of $3 million to be donated toward the construction of the new indoor baseball practice facility here at Jim Patterson Stadium,” said Ann Reed, Kroger Louisville Division President. “This new facility will help ensure the best recruits and talent come right here to Louisville.”

“Kroger had taken a thoughtful and purposeful approach while creating our unique partnership with the University. Not only is Kroger committed to UofL Athletics, but to the mission of the University. In 2019 as part of our Zero Hunger, Zero Waste plan, we announced a 1.8-million-dollar partnership inclusive of $80,000 in annual Zero Hunger, Zero Waste scholarships for students from diverse and underserved communities, monetary and in kind donations to the Cardinal Cupboard Student Food Pantry, discounts on grocery purchases for all faculty and staff, student internship programs, and facilitating connections in the community to assist in furthering the University’s food waste recycling efforts.”

“This is a great day for the Louisville baseball program,” said UofL Head Baseball Coach. “Our program is all about excellence, a value that we share with Kroger. Excellence in the classroom, on the diamond, and in this great community. We want to express our gratitude to Ann Reed and the Kroger family for their commitment to Louisville baseball and our continued pursuit of excellence.”

The generous gift will be paid over 10 years, with $300,000 contributed each year. UofL will continue to seek additional gifts prior to breaking ground on the approximately $12 million facility.

A timetable for construction has not been set for the indoor facility, which will be erected outside of the left field area next to Jim Patterson Stadium. The structure was first mentioned publicly at the Cardinals’ 2020 Leadoff Dinner, and renderings of the building were revealed at the 2021 Leadoff Dinner. The building will house between 28,000 to 35,000 square feet of space, large enough to contain an entire infield. It will not only provide an indoor artificial turf surface for use during inclement weather, but the additional space allows the Shad Mason Hack Shack to become a dedicated pitching lab.

Kroger has been a longtime sponsor of Cardinal Athletics, providing support for the athletics program for many years. Kroger sponsors the Governor’s Cup trophy, presented to the winner of the annual Louisville-Kentucky football game, and has provided $10,000 in scholarships to each school annually since 1994.

]]> UofL pitcher reflects on his time as a U.S. Marine /post/uofltoday/uofl-pitcher-reflects-on-his-time-as-a-u-s-marine/ Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:57:03 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=51836 Junior Anthony Silkwood, a United States Marine Corps veteran, is not only a Criminal Science major at UofL, but also a pitcher on UofL’s highly ranked baseball team. Silkwood who hails from East Alton, Illinois, served as a M1A1 tank crew member in the Marine Corps from 2012-2017.

Junior Anthony Silkwood, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

His fond memories of his time in the Marine Corps include deploying to the Arabian Peninsula with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, and making the All-Marine softball team. He said the people he served with in the Marine Corps are what made his experiences great. During his time in the Marine Corps, he was awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, as well as a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Post-graduation, Silkwood plans on utilizing his Criminal Justice degree to pursue a career in federal law enforcement, something he’s always wanted to do.

The University of Louisville recognizes Silkwood and his fellow Marines and veterans as the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates its 245th birthday. The military branch was created November 10, 1775 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

Story contributed by Kyle Hurwitz, director of Military Initiatives and associate director of Online Military Student Programs.

]]> UofL Baseball earns home field advantage at NCAA Super Regionals /post/uofltoday/uofl-baseball-earns-home-field-advantage-at-ncaa-super-regionals/ Tue, 04 Jun 2019 13:45:13 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=47089 A walk-off single in the bottom in the ninth inning from UofL freshmanAlexBinelas secured a 4-3 win over Illinois State on Monday and home field advantage for the Cardinal baseball team heading into Friday’s NCAA Super Regional.

Louisville (47-16), the No. 7 seed, will play East Carolina (47-16) Friday at noon atJim Patterson Stadium. The game willbe televised on ESPN2, while game two of the best-of-three series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPNU. If necessary, the decisive third game is scheduled for Sunday at noon on ESPN2.

The winner of the Louisville Super Regional will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

All-session tickets for the 2019 NCAA Super Regional in Louisville are currently available and can be. Reserved chairback seating is already sold out for the Super Regional, but general admission all-session tickets are still available for $25. If available, single game tickets will go on sale on Thursday at 10 a.m., ET.

Louisville will play in the Super Regional round for the sixth time in seven seasons. Only Vanderbilt has reached the supers as many times as the Cardinals since 2013. UofL will host the NCAA Super Regional for the sixth time in program history (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019).

Since opening the gates at Jim Patterson Stadium in 2005, the Cardinals have won more than 77 percent of their games in the ballpark posting a 400-114 record (.778 winning percentage). With Monday’s Regional clinching victory, Louisville improved to 29-7 at Jim Patterson Stadium this season and 31-9 all-time in NCAA postseason games at the corner of Third and Central.

]]> Brandeis student ‘respects challenge’ of balancing law school, baseball /post/uofltoday/brandeis-student-respects-challenge-of-balancing-law-school-baseball/ /post/uofltoday/brandeis-student-respects-challenge-of-balancing-law-school-baseball/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:25:18 +0000 http://uoflnews.com/?p=38827 For all law students, time management is a necessary skill. But that is even more true for Brandeis School of Law 1L Austin Conway, who is balancing law school with baseball practice.

Conway is a pitcher with the University of Louisville’s baseball team. He played baseball during his undergraduate career at Indiana State University, where he injured his shoulder in his junior year and sat out the majority of that year. After playing his senior year, he learned that he would likely qualify for a medical hardship waiver. He applied for that waiver, which was approved in July 2017, granting him one last year of eligibility to play.

By that point, Conway had committed to attending the Brandeis School of Law, and the powerhouse baseball team at UofL also was attractive to him. Coach DanMcDonnell spoke with Conway’s summer league coach and a few of his formerteammates, who were able to speak to Conway’s skills andcommitment.

Conwaydecided tospend one more year as a student-athlete.

“I keep getting to play the sport I love,” he said, adding that he also saw a position on the team as a networking opportunity. “DanMcDonnelljust was the, so having the opportunity to work with him throughout Louisville when I want to practice law in Louisville and being able to have him vouch for me on a professional level would be extremely beneficial when it comes time to apply for jobs.”

As a double major in legal studies and political science at Indiana State, Conway had his eye on law school for years.

“I like challenging myself. Obviously, physically with athletics, but also academically,” he said. “I wanted a career that wasn’t the same every day. The law is always changing, and every case is different. I felt like I could challenge myself every day — and I like to argue.”

Balancing life as a student-athlete is a challenge, but Conway credits support from both the law school and the baseball team in helping him maintain his hectic schedule. Conway’s law professors have been supportive, as has Jennifer DiSanza, Brandeis’assistant dean for student services and law chief of staff. AndMcDonnell has told him that academics are a priority for all his players.

McDonnell praised Conway’scommitment to success as a baseball player and as a law student.

“Austin has displayed impressive maturity and focus in the way he’s managed both baseball and law school since he arrived on campus. From the moment we first talked about the challenges of balancing those demands, his excitement for embracing the opportunity has helped him in the process. He did his own research on how many Division I student-athletes have been able to also attend law school and that has helped him have a realistic set of expectations,” McDonnell said. “He has respected the challenge and has never felt a sense of entitlement. At this point in his career, he fully understands college academics and athletics and he knows he has to earn everything he gains in the classroom and on the field.”

Conway is thinking of pursuing a career in corporate law and is looking forward to becoming more involved with law school extracurriculars when his baseball career ends this year. In the mean time, he is spending this year working hard.

“It’s not easy for the people who aren’t into it. I really, really want to practice law and it’s something that I enjoy doing, so it’s easier for me to open the book,” he said. “It’s hard, but it’s easy because I enjoy it.”

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