University of Louisville
NORTHWESTERN
Howes Singles Home Winner in the 11th
February 25, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jorge Castillo's RBI single capped a two-run ninth and Isaiah Howes singled home Daniel Burton in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the University of Louisville baseball team to an 8-7 win over Northwestern on Saturday at Jim Patterson Stadium. The Cardinals end the weekend series taking two of three from the Wildcats.
A nightmarish second inning saw the Wildcats (3-5) score five runs on just one hit. Following a leadoff single by Antonio Mule, there were three hit batters, a walk, three Cardinal (2-6) errors and a sacrifice fly to grab the 2-0 lead and chase U of L starter Mike Lynn.
Mule added a leadoff triple in the third and scored on an RBI single by Stanley Finch to make it 6-0 Northwestern.
The Cardinals began to chip away in the fourth. Logan Johnson doubled to open the inning, moved to third on Castillo's single and scored on a sac fly by Howes.
Boomer Whiting doubled with one away in the fifth and was plated on an RBI single by Nick Haley, cutting the NU lead to 6-2.
Catcher Kyle Carden was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh, Whiting reached on an error and Chris Cates singled to load the bases. A ground out by Haley scored Carden, Burton's RBI single plated Whiting and Johnson hit an RBI single of his own, slicing the advantage down to a single run, 6-5.
Pat McMahon's RBI single scored Aaron Newman in the top of the ninth for what looked to be an insurance run for the Cats.
Cates drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, and an out later, Burton's double put runners at second and third with one out. Johnson grounded to second, scoring Cates and moving Burton to third before Castillo's heroics.
The sophomore from Miami was behind in the count 1-2 before his base hit through the right side with two out ensured extra innings with the score tied 7-7.
Leading off the Cardinal 11th, Burton drilled a double off the right field wall. Johnson's shallow fly ball to right was deep enough for Burton to tag and move to third. An intentional walk was issued to Castillo setting the stage for Howes.
Having already been retired by Northwestern reliever Dan Schwartz twice in the game with runners on, Howes this time drove an 0-1 offering through the left side of the infield, clinching the win for the Cards.
Brian Halford (1-0) earned the win, striking out three in 2.1 innings.
Lynn was touched for five runs - three earned on one hit and a walk while striking out one. He set the side down in order in the first.
Senior Griffin Bailey came on for the fifth time this season and worked 6.1 innings, surrendering just two runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out seven - five on called third strikes. Jake Smith needed only one pitch to retire the only batter he faced.
Schwartz (0-1), who picked up the save in game two of the doubleheader Friday, took the loss, tossing 4.1 innings and giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out three.
Burton and Castillo each had three hits to pace the Cardinal offensive attack, with Johnson, Howes and Haley driving in two runs apiece.
Louisville is off until Thursday when they will host Eastern Michigan in the first of four games in four days against the Eagles at Jim Patterson Stadium where admission is free. First pitch Thursday is set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
