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If you were looking for a St. Louis Cardinals baseball score this morning, you probably noticed the stadium is quiet. It's January. The grass at Busch Stadium is likely dormant, and the only "runs" being made are by fans trying to stay warm. But if you’re asking who won last night's Cardinals game, the answer depends entirely on which "Cardinals" you’re tracking.
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the real action wasn't on a diamond. It was on the hardwood and the ice.
The Louisville Cardinals: A Tough Night in Kentucky
The biggest "Cardinals" game on the schedule last night involved the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team. They hosted the No. 16 Virginia Cavaliers in a high-stakes ACC showdown.
It wasn't the result Louisville fans wanted. Virginia won 79-70.
Honestly, it was a bit of a grind. Louisville started cold—like, arctic cold. They missed their first seven shots and fell behind 14-0 in just three and a half minutes. You can't do that against a Tony Bennett-coached team and expect to have a fun night. Despite the slow start, the Cardinals showed some heart. Isaac McKneely, who actually used to play for Virginia, dropped a season-high 23 points against his old squad.
Louisville managed to cut the lead to six points with about a minute left, but Virginia’s Malik Thomas was just too much. He hit six three-pointers. Every time Louisville threatened to make it a game, Thomas or Johann Grunloh seemed to hit a dagger.
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Ball State Cardinals: Heartbreak in Akron
Meanwhile, in the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State Cardinals were up in Ohio taking on the Akron Zips. This one was a shootout, but again, the Cardinals came up short.
Akron beat Ball State 87-77.
Armoni Zeigler was a beast for Ball State, tying his career-high with 30 points. It’s kinda wild to watch a guy go off like that and still see his team lose by double digits. Ball State fell behind 14-2 early (sense a pattern here?), fought back to tie it, but eventually succumbed to Akron’s home-court dominance. That win was actually Akron's 25th straight home victory.
Wesleyan Cardinals: A Frozen Battle
If you're a fan of the "Little Three" or NESCAC sports, the Wesleyan Cardinals women's ice hockey team was also in action last night. They faced off against No. 10 Endicott College.
This one was a defensive struggle, but the Cardinals couldn't find the back of the net. Endicott won 3-0. Sami Smith was a bright spot in goal for Wesleyan, making a ton of saves to keep it close early, but the offense just couldn't get anything past Lauren Ferrari.
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What About the NFL Cardinals?
If you were looking for the Arizona Cardinals, their season actually wrapped up about ten days ago. On January 4, 2026, they played their final game of the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams won 37-20.
It was a rough end to a rough year for Arizona, finishing 3-14. Jacoby Brissett threw two touchdowns, and Michael Wilson had a solid game with 99 receiving yards, but Matthew Stafford and the Rams' offense were just clicking. Since the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs, their "last night" was spent watching from the couch like the rest of us.
The St. Louis Cardinals: Off-Field Fireworks
Now, even though there wasn't a baseball game last night, the St. Louis Cardinals made more noise than anyone else.
In a move that’s going to be talked about for years in the 314, the Cardinals officially traded Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday.
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Yeah, you read that right.
The deal, which was finalized on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, involved the Cardinals sending $31 million in cash along with the future Hall of Famer to the desert. In return, they got a young right-handed pitcher named Jack Martinez. It marks a massive shift for the franchise under Chaim Bloom, signaling a total "fresh start" for both the team and Arenado.
Take Action: What’s Next for Cardinals Fans?
Depending on which bird you follow, here is how you should handle the next 24 hours:
- Louisville Fans: Keep an eye on the injury report. The team has played seven straight games without guard Mikel Brown Jr., and they clearly miss his playmaking. Their next chance to bounce back is right around the corner.
- St. Louis Fans: Get used to the name Jack Martinez. He was an 8th-round pick out of Arizona State, and he's now the "face" of the Arenado trade. You'll want to track his progress in the minors this spring.
- Arizona Fans: The 2026 opponents are already set. You'll be hosting the Eagles, Broncos, and Raiders next season. It's officially "mock draft" season, so start looking at those top-five prospects.
Sports are unpredictable. One night you're trading away a legend, and the next you're fighting for a spot in the ACC standings. No matter which Cardinals team you root for, last night proved that even in the "off-season," there's no such thing as a quiet Tuesday.
Next Steps for Your Sports Fix:
Check the updated ACC standings to see how Louisville's loss affects their tournament seeding, or dive into the scouting reports for Jack Martinez to see what the St. Louis rotation might look like in 2027.