2025 College World Series: Louisville eliminates Arizona behind mistake-filled, 6-run 8th inning

Arizona was an inning away from keeping their season going and eliminating Louisville in the loser’s bracket of the 2025 College World Series. However, with a disaster of an eighth inning for them, the Wildcats will be the ones leaving Omaha instead.

Arizona had error after error in the bottom of the eighth inning, allowing six runs to the Cardinals to turn a one-run lead into a five-run deficit going into the ninth. That was all as three outs would then win it for Louisville.

Here is what transpired in the 6-run 8th inning for UofL. The Cards turned this game upside down. #MCWS #Louisville #GoCards

Video: ESPN pic.twitter.com/BJlZfM5anF

— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) June 15, 2025

An error by SS Mason White allowed the first batter in Jake Munroe to get to first to open the eighth inning. That would lead to loaded bases for the Cardinals after two more singles, one being dropped, before another single that stayed fair by Zion Rose took the lead at 4-3 and another single from Kamau Neighbors scored Rose made it 5-3. A dropped ball during a rundown at home plate by P Tony Pluta added another run as well as an RBI off a bunt from Alex Alicea and another RBI single from Matt Klein would continue the meltdown, making it 8-3 for Louisville going into the ninth after trailing for the duration of the game.

Arizona then wouldn’t recover with a response from what happened the inning prior. The Wildcats got two on base off singles but a foul out, strikeout, and flyout would end the game in a Cardinals’ win, advancing them to Tuesday afternoon for either a rematch against Oregon State or a game against Coastal Carolina pending tonight’s game between the Beavers and Chanticleers.

There are a lot of ways to lose a game. Doing so allowing a comeback, with multiple errors that, if were made as plays, could have ended the inning or allowed a few less runs, that late in the game, though, is among the more brutal ways to do so as Arizona, the winners of the Big 12 Tournament, are the first team eliminated from Omaha as the Wildcats now head back to Tucson.

Recap of Arizona vs. Louisville in MCWS

Sunday, June 15

Game 5 – Louisville 8, Arizona 3
Louisville entered the bottom of the eighth inning down 3-2 to Arizona. Then, the Cardinals caught fire, rattling off six runs to take a commanding 8-3 lead. Louisville senior Kamau Neighbors was spectacular for the Cardinals, recording a game-high four hits on four at-bats. With the win, Louisville secured at least another two days in Omaha.
— Arizona eliminated