University of Louisville
<i>@Cincinnati *</i>
Johnson and Cards Outslug Bearcats
March 18, 2005 | Baseball
March 18, 2005
CINCINNATI, OH - Logan Johnson was 4 for 5 with four RBI, including a three-run home run that proved to be the difference as the University of Louisville outslugged Cincinnati 15-12 in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
The Cardinals (10-6, 1-0 C-USA) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Boomer Whiting again started things for the Cards with a double to center field, and scored on Nick Haley's RBI single.
J.T. LaFountain walked, and Jorge Castillo singled to load the bases and Johnson singled home Haley to make it 2-0. Derrick Alfonso's RBI fielder's choice plated another run and another fielder's choice by Daniel Burton, coupled with a throwing error scored two more to cap the frame.
The Bearcats (8-6, 0-1 C-USA) responded with five of their own in the second on two hits, a walk and two Cardinal errors to tie the game at five.
LaFountain's sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Chris Cates to give the Cards a 6-5 lead.
An RBI single by Logan Parker was followed by an RBI double by Brian Szarmach to put the Bearcats up for the first time, 7-6.
Jorge Castillo doubled to left center to open the top of the fifth, Johnson followed with a bloop single and Alfonso's bloop single scored Castillo to tie the game up again. After a sac bunt by Burton, Cates and Whiting put the Cards back in front with back-to-back RBI singles to make it 9-7.
UC answered again in the bottom of the inning with a two-run double by John DeLuca in the fifth that tied the game at nine.
Senior Ryan McKinnon was hit by a pitch to open the sixth, Castillo followed with a single, and Johnson tattooed a 1-0 pitch deep over the fence in right for his second home run of the season, giving the Cards a 12-9 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, a leadoff home run by Parker trimmed the lead to 12-10, and an RBI groundout by Mark Muscenti cut the advantage to a single run.
Burton walked to open the Cardinal ninth, a sacrifice by Cates moved him to second, and Whiting's infield single put runners at the corners. Haley reached on an RBI fielder's choice, and LaFountain blasted his team-leading third home run of the season to right for two more insurance runs, and a 15-11 lead.
An RBI single by Mark Haske put the Bearcats a run closer, but the Cards closed out the ninth to seal the victory.
Scott Jenkins (1-0) picked up his first career win, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in four innings of relief. Justin Valdes started and was ousted in the second. He was victimized for five runs - three earned, on one hit and a pair of walks in an inning plus.
Blake Williams allowed two runs, one of which was earned on two hits, without recording an out.
Griffin Bailey tossed three scoreless innings of one-hit baseball, striking out one. Brian Halford closed things out giving up a run on a pair of hits in the ninth.
Bearcat reliever Bryan Wood (2-1) took the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits in an inning.
Castillo and Whiting were both 3 for 5, while Haley had two hits. LaFountain had three RBI on the afternoon.
Johnson established career highs with his four hits and four RBI, as he and Castillo both scored three runs. The Cards pounded out 15 hits, tying their season high, and the 15 runs was the highest scoring game of the season for U of L.
The same two teams will hook up for game two of three Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
