Louisville native and Dodgers catcher Will Smith, a former University of Louisville standout, is back in the World Series chasing his third championship ring while making his hometown proud.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Four years ago, Patrick Forbes was an outfielder with a promising arm. Now he’s a first-round pitcher with a golden ticket.

And for the first time since his controversial exit in 2017, the man who built that vision stood again in the shadow of the buildings he helped to raise and the program he helped elevate.

This isn’t about poring over the roster. It’s about combing through the budget.

There would be no late rally this time.

You could stop keeping score after the first inning. First, the University of Louisville baseball team ran out of pitching. Then it ran out of season.

Coastal Carolina has won 25 games in a row. That's not natural.

After winning elimination games against Arizona Sunday and Oregon State Tuesday, the Cardinals will gather again at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska Tuesday at 2 p.m. (EDT) for another win-or-else game against Coastal Carolina.

The math isn't pretty. To keep its season alive, Louisville will have to win three games in three days — against two top-tier opponents — just to reach the College World Series finals.

That’s the new number keeping athletic directors up at night — the amount schools can now pay athletes annually in direct compensation under the NCAA’s House settlement, beginning July 1.