Leones del Escogido Wins 10-8 in Louisville’s Dominican Finale
October 05, 2015 | Baseball
Botsoe goes 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Hairston finishes 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Cardinals
BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic - The Louisville baseball team concluded its four-game Dominican Republic schedule on Monday with a 10-8 loss to Leones del Escogido in a 10-inning game at the Arizona Diamondbacks Complex at Baseball City.
Monday's result was the Cardinals' second two-run loss in as many days to a Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League foe after dropping a 5-3 decision to Estrellas Orientales on Sunday night. Overall, Louisville concluded its first international trip with a 2-2 record while also gaining valuable game experience for both the returning players and newcomers.
"I thought everybody did some good things, but there was a lot we can improve on. It gives me some good perspective on what we need to focus on as we get back home to conclude the fall and what we need to accomplish heading into spring training," said Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell. "The final two games of the weekend were reminders that to wins games, especially close games against high level talent like we faced the last two days, you have to show toughness. I challenged our players that if they're going to win a regional, super regional or a national championship, they have to be tough mentally."
Like Sunday's contest against Estrellas, Monday's game was beneficial for the Louisville coaching staff as well as everyone with Escogido as they continue their preparations for the 2015-16 season-opener on Oct. 15. The Leones del Escogido baseball franchise was founded in 1921 and is a 12-time league champion while also winning four Caribbean Series championships.
Leading the way for the Louisville offense on Monday was freshman outfielder Chris Botsoe, who was 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore infielder Devin Hairston chipped in going 2-for-4 with one RBI and scoring once, while senior infielder Danny Rosenbaum finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Sophomore Brendan McKay and freshman Daniel Little had two hits each and redshirt freshman Drew Ellis added a two-run double for the Cardinals, who out-hit the home club 17-15.
On the mound, junior righty Zack Burdi had one strikeout in a scoreless inning of relief, while junior righthander Shane Hummel worked a perfect 10th inning out of the bullpen. Junior righty Jake Sparger recorded the final two outs of the eighth inning for his second scoreless relief outing in three days.
Louisville struck first on Monday connecting for three runs in the second inning on a RBI single by sophomore Colby Fitch and the two-run double from Ellis. Escogido answered with a run in the bottom of the second and another run in the third before gaining the lead for good with a five-run fourth inning. They added two more runs in the fifth inning for a commanding 9-3 advantage.
The Cardinals cut the deficit in half with a three-run sixth inning. After driving in Hairston with a single to left field, Botsoe followed fellow freshman outfielder Josh Stowers around the bases and all the way to the plate after an error fielding the hit allowed the ball to roll to the fence. Botsoe quickly circled the diamond and scored without a throw home to narrow the difference to 9-6.
After Escogido added a run in the seventh, the Cardinals answered with a run in the eighth on a RBI single to center from Botsoe to score Little. Louisville's final run of the day came in the 10th inning on a two-out RBI single by Hairston to plate Botsoe, who singled and stole second earlier in the frame. After a single by McKay extended the inning and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, a strikeout ended the threat for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals' trip to the Dominican Republic, which coincided with the university's mid-term break, concludes Tuesday with the team's return home that evening. Louisville has partnered with SCORE International for their housing, transportation and community service work while on the ground in the Dominican Republic. SCORE International is a short term mission organization with extensive experience providing all-inclusive trips.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TRIP
Offensively, Louisville scored eight or more runs in three of the four games while in the Dominican Republic and finished with 51 runs overall. Junior outfielder Colin Lyman led the way hitting .600 overall (6-for-10) with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and two stolen bases, while freshman outfielder Josh Stowers was 5-for-9 (.556) with six RBI.
Freshman outfielder Chris Botsoe closed the weekend at .455 (5-for-11) at the plate with a home run and six RBI, while junior first baseman Michael Bollmer had seven RBI with two home runs, both on Saturday, and hit .364 (4-for-11) overall. Junior catcher Will Smith and sophomore infielder Blake Tiberi each hit .545 (6-for-11) and freshman Daniel Little was 5-for-10 at the plate.
On the pitching side, junior lefty Drew Harrington set the pace by striking out nine and allowing just one hit in five shutout innings to earn the win in one of Saturday's split squad games. Sophomore righty Kade McClure earned the victory in Saturday's other split squad contest after striking out seven and allowing just two hits without surrendering an earned run in five innings. In Sunday night's narrow loss to Estrellas, senior righthander Anthony Kidston had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit in three dominant innings of shutout relief.
FALL BALL AT PATTERSON STADIUM TO RESUME LATER THIS WEEK
The Cardinals are expected to take Wednesday off from the practice field as the players return to classes following the mid-term break and recharge from five days of international travel. McDonnell tentatively plans for his club to return to the practice field on Thursday at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville will likely resume its intra-squad scrimmage schedule over the weekend with the dates and times to be announced later this week. Fall ball for the Cardinals is expected to continue for approximately two more weeks before concluding with the annual Pizza Bowl series later this month.
LOUISVILLE BASEBALL 2015 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GAME SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Results: Louisville 18, Liga del Oesta 0 | Louisville 22, International Prospect League 3 (split squads)
Date/Location: Saturday, Oct. 3 | The Highlands Complex | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
Result: Estrellas Orientales 5, Louisville 3
Date/Location: Sunday, Oct. 4 | Estadio Tetelo Vargas | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Result: Leones del Escogido 10, Louisville 8
Date/Location: Monday, Oct. 5 | Arizona Diamondback Complex-Baseball City | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
Monday's result was the Cardinals' second two-run loss in as many days to a Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League foe after dropping a 5-3 decision to Estrellas Orientales on Sunday night. Overall, Louisville concluded its first international trip with a 2-2 record while also gaining valuable game experience for both the returning players and newcomers.
"I thought everybody did some good things, but there was a lot we can improve on. It gives me some good perspective on what we need to focus on as we get back home to conclude the fall and what we need to accomplish heading into spring training," said Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell. "The final two games of the weekend were reminders that to wins games, especially close games against high level talent like we faced the last two days, you have to show toughness. I challenged our players that if they're going to win a regional, super regional or a national championship, they have to be tough mentally."
Like Sunday's contest against Estrellas, Monday's game was beneficial for the Louisville coaching staff as well as everyone with Escogido as they continue their preparations for the 2015-16 season-opener on Oct. 15. The Leones del Escogido baseball franchise was founded in 1921 and is a 12-time league champion while also winning four Caribbean Series championships.
Leading the way for the Louisville offense on Monday was freshman outfielder Chris Botsoe, who was 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore infielder Devin Hairston chipped in going 2-for-4 with one RBI and scoring once, while senior infielder Danny Rosenbaum finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Sophomore Brendan McKay and freshman Daniel Little had two hits each and redshirt freshman Drew Ellis added a two-run double for the Cardinals, who out-hit the home club 17-15.
On the mound, junior righty Zack Burdi had one strikeout in a scoreless inning of relief, while junior righthander Shane Hummel worked a perfect 10th inning out of the bullpen. Junior righty Jake Sparger recorded the final two outs of the eighth inning for his second scoreless relief outing in three days.
Louisville struck first on Monday connecting for three runs in the second inning on a RBI single by sophomore Colby Fitch and the two-run double from Ellis. Escogido answered with a run in the bottom of the second and another run in the third before gaining the lead for good with a five-run fourth inning. They added two more runs in the fifth inning for a commanding 9-3 advantage.
The Cardinals cut the deficit in half with a three-run sixth inning. After driving in Hairston with a single to left field, Botsoe followed fellow freshman outfielder Josh Stowers around the bases and all the way to the plate after an error fielding the hit allowed the ball to roll to the fence. Botsoe quickly circled the diamond and scored without a throw home to narrow the difference to 9-6.
After Escogido added a run in the seventh, the Cardinals answered with a run in the eighth on a RBI single to center from Botsoe to score Little. Louisville's final run of the day came in the 10th inning on a two-out RBI single by Hairston to plate Botsoe, who singled and stole second earlier in the frame. After a single by McKay extended the inning and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, a strikeout ended the threat for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals' trip to the Dominican Republic, which coincided with the university's mid-term break, concludes Tuesday with the team's return home that evening. Louisville has partnered with SCORE International for their housing, transportation and community service work while on the ground in the Dominican Republic. SCORE International is a short term mission organization with extensive experience providing all-inclusive trips.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TRIP
Offensively, Louisville scored eight or more runs in three of the four games while in the Dominican Republic and finished with 51 runs overall. Junior outfielder Colin Lyman led the way hitting .600 overall (6-for-10) with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and two stolen bases, while freshman outfielder Josh Stowers was 5-for-9 (.556) with six RBI.
Freshman outfielder Chris Botsoe closed the weekend at .455 (5-for-11) at the plate with a home run and six RBI, while junior first baseman Michael Bollmer had seven RBI with two home runs, both on Saturday, and hit .364 (4-for-11) overall. Junior catcher Will Smith and sophomore infielder Blake Tiberi each hit .545 (6-for-11) and freshman Daniel Little was 5-for-10 at the plate.
On the pitching side, junior lefty Drew Harrington set the pace by striking out nine and allowing just one hit in five shutout innings to earn the win in one of Saturday's split squad games. Sophomore righty Kade McClure earned the victory in Saturday's other split squad contest after striking out seven and allowing just two hits without surrendering an earned run in five innings. In Sunday night's narrow loss to Estrellas, senior righthander Anthony Kidston had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit in three dominant innings of shutout relief.
FALL BALL AT PATTERSON STADIUM TO RESUME LATER THIS WEEK
The Cardinals are expected to take Wednesday off from the practice field as the players return to classes following the mid-term break and recharge from five days of international travel. McDonnell tentatively plans for his club to return to the practice field on Thursday at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville will likely resume its intra-squad scrimmage schedule over the weekend with the dates and times to be announced later this week. Fall ball for the Cardinals is expected to continue for approximately two more weeks before concluding with the annual Pizza Bowl series later this month.
LOUISVILLE BASEBALL 2015 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GAME SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Results: Louisville 18, Liga del Oesta 0 | Louisville 22, International Prospect League 3 (split squads)
Date/Location: Saturday, Oct. 3 | The Highlands Complex | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
Result: Estrellas Orientales 5, Louisville 3
Date/Location: Sunday, Oct. 4 | Estadio Tetelo Vargas | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Result: Leones del Escogido 10, Louisville 8
Date/Location: Monday, Oct. 5 | Arizona Diamondback Complex-Baseball City | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
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