University of Louisville
<i>@Xavier</i>
Cards Double Up Musketeers 8-4
April 20, 2005 | Baseball
April 20, 2005
CINCINNATI, OH - Three-run seventh and eighth innings lifted the University of Louisville to an 8-4 win at Xavier on Wednesday.
The Cards (18-15) got on the board first when senior Ryan McKinnon launched a towering home run to left field on a 3-1 count for a 1-0 Cardinal advantage.
The Musketeers (14-25) evened the score in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by James Schlosser.
Louisville took the lead back for good in the fifth when Isaiah Howes singled to center and XU outfielder Jay Johnson mishandled the ball, allowing Howes to second. Jorge Castillo followed with a double to left to plate Howes and put the Cards up 2-1.
Logan Johnson singled to open the seventh, J.T. LaFountain walked and Howes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch scored a run and Castillo walked to reload the bases.
McKinnon then singled home LaFountain and a sac fly by Greg Taylor brought in Howes to cap the frame with a 5-1 U of L lead.
Nick Haley reached on a single leading off the eighth, stole second and advanced to third on a Johnson single.
LaFountain followed with his 42nd career double, clearing the bases and putting the Cards up 7-1. Castillo singled home LaFountain making it 8-1.
Schlosser struck again in the eighth with a two-run single and Emre Caglayan drove in a run with a pinch single, but Griffin Bailey retired consecutive batters with the bases loaded in the eighth on his way to his first career save.
Bailey tossed 1.2 scoreless, allowing a hit and a walk while fanning one.
Jon Harbridge (3-0) picked up the win, tossing four solid innings, allowing a run on five hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
Trystan Magnuson twirled two scoreless innings of relief, giving up a hit.
Freshman Jake Smith was touched for three runs, two earned on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in an inning and a third.
Xavier starter Brett Smith (1-4) took the loss, surrendering four runs - three earned, on eight hits and three walks in six-plus innings. He struck out four.
Johnson paced the Cardinal hit attack with three safeties, while Haley, LaFountain, Castillo and McKinnon each had two.
LaFountain is now tied for ninth all-time in doubles with Richie Hawks. He is also 10th on the all-time hit list at U of L 205, three out of the ninth spot.
The Cardinals will head to St. Louis to face the Billikens for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
