Getting to the Men's College World Series wasn't enough for Louisville baseball. The Cardinals had been there five times before but have yet to play in the national championship series. With their backs to the wall after falling to the elimination bracket,

The Arizona Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals meet up in Omaha on Sunday with their NCAA Men’s College World Series hopes on the line in the first elimination game of the tournament. Both teams had high hopes coming into the Men’s College World Series, but found themselves on the losing end of a couple of tough battles.

For seven innings on Sunday, it appeared that Louisville’s bid for its first national championship in program history was destined to come to a quiet end. Fortunately for the Cardinals -- who hadn’t won a game at the Men’s College World Series since 2019 -- that was not the case.

The Louisville Cardinals are moving on in the College World Series after a tremendous eighth inning comeback in a must-win game against Arizona.

"Sometimes just a little tough love, sometimes it's a little kick in the rear," Louisville coach Dan McDonnell said.

Hope is the second 2026 prospect to decommit from UofL over the last five days. Sarasota (Fla.) Booker defensive lineman Kevontay Hugan did so last Wednesday.