University of Louisville
EASTERN KENTUCKY
Cardinal Nine Rallies for Win
February 23, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2005
LOUISVILLE, KY - An RBI single by sophomore Isaiah Howes capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the University of Louisville to an 8-7 win over Eastern Kentucky in baseball action Wednesday.
Louisville's Boomer Whiting singled to lead off the ballgame, stole second and scored on a two-out, two-run home run to right by DH Logan Johnson for an early 2-0 lead.
A wild pitch plated EKU's Will Wisenant to cut the Cardinal (3-1) lead to 2-1.
In the U of L half of the fourth, Johnson walked to open the frame and he and Howes executed a hit and run to put runners at the corners with no outs.
Jorge Castillo singled home Johnson and Howes later scored on a base hit by Chris Cates for a 4-1 Cardinal advantage.
Brett Bolger's sacrifice fly in the fifth again trimmed the Cardinal lead, this time to 4-2, and three unearned runs in the seventh put the Colonels into the lead for the first time in the game 5-4.
A two-run single by Whisenant in the ninth plated what appeared to be insurance runs and gave EKU (0-1) a 7-4 advantage.
The Cardinal rally began with catcher Michael Urti reaching on a throwing error with one away. Cates was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.
Whiting sliced a fair ball down the right field line that glanced off of the rightfielder's glove and out of play, scoring Urti, and putting Whiting and Cates at second and third respectively.
With the count 0-1, Nick Haley singled through the right side, scoring Cates and a fleet-footed Whiting to tie the ballgame.
J.T. LaFountain walked and Johnson hit into what looked to be an inning-ending double play, but instead turned out to be the third Colonel error of the inning, loading the bases for Howes.
The Louisville PRP graduate fell behind 0-2 before lacing a pitch inside the third base bag, plating the game winner.
Freshman Jake Smith made his college debut, starting and tossing five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four.
Trystan Magnuson was touched for three runs, all unearned on a hit and two walks, while fanning one in 1.1 innings out of the pen.
Griffin Bailey allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a third of an inning. Brian Halford gave up two runs, one earned, on a hit and three walks in 1.2 frames. He struck out two.
Junior Jon Harbridge (1-0) faced one batter, inducing a double play ground ball to end the top of the ninth and pick up the win.
EKU closer Richard Boothe (0-1) took the loss, giving up the four unearned runs in the ninth, allowing two hits and a walk while recording just one out.
Howes, Cates and Whiting each had two hits for the Cards, while Haley and Johnson both drove in two.
Louisville will play in a season opener for the third consecutive opponent when they host Toledo on Friday at 2:00 p.m. for the first of three games over the weekend with the Rockets. Admission to the game is free to the public and game can be heard in Louisville on WAVG 1450 AM.
