University of Louisville
MIAMI (OH) - Game One
Cardinal Nine Splits Twinbill With Redhawks
March 06, 2005 | Baseball
March 6, 2005
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University of Louisville exploded for 12 runs in the final three innings on Sunday, lifting them to a 14-4 win, and a split of a doubleheader against Miami(OH) at Cardinal Stadium. The Redhawks took game one 2-0.
Miami third baseman Brian Canada homered to right to lead off the fifth inning of game one and give the Redhawks (2-5) a 1-0 lead.
Freshman DH Evan Armitage duplicated the feat in the seventh for the only other run of the ballgame.
Miami starter Graham Taylor (1-0) tossed 8.2 shutout innings, allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out a career-best 11 in the win.
John Ely picked up the save by inducing a groundout by Derrick Alfonso to end the game on a controversial play. On that ground ball that was headed down the first base line, Redhawk first baseman Paul Freitch knocked the ball down and made a toss to Ely covering the bag.
It was argued fervently by the Cardinal coaches that the ball was dropped, but the call stood and the game ended with the two-man umpiring crew walking to the dressing room to a chorus of boos from the Cardinal faithful.
Cardinal starter Justin Valdes (0-3) was the hard-luck loser for the second consecutive start, allowing two runs on just three hits and a walk in seven innings. He struck out seven.
Jon Harbridge allowed a hit and struck out a pair in the final two innings for the Cards.
J.T. LaFountain had three of the Cardinals seven hits in game one.
Louisville (6-4) fell behind in game two when Brandon Hillier's two-run triple gave them a 2-0 lead in the third.
LaFountain's second home run of the season, a two-run shot to right-center, tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth.
Miami plated two more in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice and a throwing error for a 4-2 advantage.
Louisville sent 12 to the plate in an eight-run bottom of the sixth for their first lead on the afternoon.
Boomer Whiting doubled to open the frame, Nick Haley singled and LaFountain scored Whiting with a single of his own.
A walk to Logan Johnson loaded the bases and Daniel Burton's single scored another run for the Cards. Jorge Castillo and Danny Plasencia both drove in runs on RBI groundouts, and Chris Cates walked to again load the bases.
Whiting then doubled for the second time in the inning, plating two more, and Haley followed with a two-run single to cap the stanza and turn a 4-2 deficit into a 10-4 lead.
Cates doubled to open the Cardinal eighth, Whiting was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Ryan McKinnon walked to again load the bases. A wild pitch moved everyone up a station, scoring Cates, and Burton capped his three-hit game with a towering three-run home run to left that punctuated the Cardinal win.
Mike Lynn made his first start in one calendar year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and gave up a pair of runs on one hit and a walk in three innings. He struck out one.
Freshman Jake Smith (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with three innings of relief, allowing two runs - one earned, on three hits and two walks in three innings, fanning three.
Trystan Magnuson pitched the seventh, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one, while Griffin Bailey closed things out for the Cards with two innings of hitless relief. He walked one and struck out one.
Matt Erwood (0-1) took the loss for Miami, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk without retiring a batter. He was one of five Redhawk hurlers in game two, all of which were touched for at least two runs.
LaFountain was 5 for 9 on the afternoon and drove in his 100th career run on his home run. He combined with Whiting and Haley to go 6 for 13 with seven RBI and seven runs scored in the night cap.
Burton was 4 for 6 with a pinch double in game one and a 3 for 5 effort in game two with four RBI.
The Cards are hosting Wright State on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. Admission is free and radio broadcast can be heard in Louisville on WAVG 1450 AM.
