University of Louisville
at #28 Georgia
Cardinals Succumb to Bulldogs 8-1
March 10, 2006 | Baseball
March 10, 2006
ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia broke open a pitchers duel with three in the seventh and three more in the eighth to defeat the University of Louisville 8-1 in baseball action Friday night at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs (9-2) struck first with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. RBI singles by Ryan Piesel and Matt Robbins put the Dogs on top 2-0.
Daniel Burton's leadoff walk in the Cardinal fifth broke a string of 12 straight retired by Georgia starter Brooks Brown. Isaiah Howes hit into what appeared to be a routine double play, but UGA shortstop Gordon Beckham had trouble handling it and everyone was safe.
Derrick Alfonso then rolled one to UGA third baseman Ryan Piesel. His throw to second retired Howes, but the relay to first by second baseman Jonathan Wyatt was wild, allowing Burton to score and cut the lead to 2-1.
Before the Bulldogs broke the game open, Chris Cates doubled with one away in the sixth and when Burton smoked a single to center, Cates bid to score the tying run, but a perfect throw by UGA center fielder Joey Side cut down the runner, retaining the 2-1 UGA advantage.
In the Bulldog seventh a sac fly by Side, and RBI base hits from Wyatt and Jason Jacobs extended their advantage to 5-1.
An RBI triple by Piesel and RBI singles by Kyle Keen and Mattew Dunn sealed the win in the eighth.
Cardinal starter Scott Jenkins (0-2) was the hard-luck loser, giving up just two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out a career-best eight in six solid innings.
Griffin Bailey was touched for three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, while Zack Pitts gave up three runs on five hits and a walk in an inning and a third. He fanned three.
Brown (2-0) went a career-long eight innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits and a walk, while equalling his career-high in strikeouts with eight of his own to earn the win.
Rip Warren struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth to close things out.
Cates, Burton and Michael Urti had the only hits for the Cards.
Game two of the series will take place on Saturday at Foley Field beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET, with David Torcise (0-2, 4.91 ERA) heading to the mound for the Cards to oppose UGA's Mickey Westphal (0-1, 3.60 ERA).
