Next Game: OMAHA 2/24/2017 | 2:00 PM ACC Network Extra 1450 WXVW

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 6 Louisville baseball team opened its 2017 home schedule by delivering the program's highest scoring performance since last year's season-opener as the Cardinals registered a 19-3 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The 19 runs were the most for Louisville (4-0) since a 21-4 victory against SIU Edwardsville in the 2016 season-opener at Jim Patterson Stadium (Feb. 19, 2016). The Cardinals finished with 19 hits, their highest total since banging out 19 hits against Ohio State in an NCAA Regional game in Louisville on June 4, 2016. Wednesday's result marked the sixth straight home-opening win for Louisville, which improved to 10-1 overall in home-openers under head coach Dan McDonnell .

Junior Devin Hairston paced the way for the Cardinals and matched a career-high for hits after finishing 4-for-4 with three RBI and scoring two runs. The four hits for Hairston equaled his performance against Morehead State on May 29, 2015 in an NCAA Regional game. Senior Logan Taylor added three hits, walked twice, drove in two runs and scored twice, while junior Colby Fitch chipped in with two hits and one RBI for Louisville, which has won nine straight games and 17 of the last 18 in the series with the Colonels (0-5).

Junior Brendan McKay continued his fast start to the season crushing a first inning grand slam to highlight a 2-for-4 outing at the plate. The first career grand slam for McKay was also his third home run in the first four games of the season. Through four games, McKay is 6-of-12 overall with five walks, nine RBI, an on-base percentage of .684 and a 1.250 slugging percentage.

On the mound, junior lefthander Rabon Martin registered his first win as a Cardinal after striking out a pair without allowing a hit in three innings of shutout relief. A first-year member of the Cardinals after transferring from Darton State College, Martin was the first pitcher out of the Louisville bullpen in relief of sophomore starter Bryan Hoeing , who finished with seven strikeouts and allowed three runs on four hits in three innings.

A trio of relievers combined for the final nine outs of the game, highlighted by the collegiate debut of freshman lefty Adam Elliott , who finished with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of perfect relief. Senior Jake Sparger retired the only two batters he faced before giving way to Elliott, while junior Chandler Dale recorded the final three outs of the game, all by strikeout.

The Cardinals started fast as Taylor and Fitch singled and sophomore Devin Mann walked before McKay pulverized a 1-0 offering from Max Ford sending it over the centerfield wall for Louisville's first grand slam since Corey Ray 's seventh inning shot at Virginia on April 4, 2015. McKay's blast was the first grand slam at home for the Cardinals since Nick Ratajczak's eighth inning round-tripper against Xavier on March 16, 2013.

The Colonels chipped away at the margin with a run in the second inning and two more runs in the third before Louisville regained command for good with a five-run fifth inning. Junior Drew Ellis launched his second home run of the season sending a two-run shot out to left center, and Hairston added a RBI single before an EKU error added two more runs.

Louisville followed the big fifth inning with a six-run sixth inning, a three-run seventh inning and a final run in the eighth inning. The Cardinals also played error-free baseball for the fourth straight game to open the season and the seventh consecutive game overall dating back to last season.

Sixth-ranked Louisville will continue its eight-game homestand at Jim Patterson Stadium on Friday at 3 p.m., ET in the first of three weekend games against Omaha.

Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.

