University of Louisville
UCONN *
Cardinal Nine Beats UCONN 3-2 in 12 Innings
April 01, 2006 | Baseball
April 1, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Daniel Burton's RBI single to center with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th scored Isaiah Howes, giving the University of Louisville a 3-2 win over UCONN Saturday night at Jim Patterson Stadium. The victory evened the weekend series at a game apiece, setting up the rubber game Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
UCONN (15-9, 5-3 BIG EAST) broke a scoreless tussle with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Dennis Donovan's RBI double scored Pat Mahoney who had opened the inning with a walk. Steve Malinowski's RBI fielder's choice plated Donovan for the 2-0 lead.
Logan Johnson singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and scored when Husky rightfielder Austin Wasserman lost Derrick Alfonso's fly ball in the lights, turning it into a two-out RBI double. That cut the lead to 2-1.
In the Louisville (12-15, 4-1 BIG EAST) half of the eighth Burton doubled down the left field line with one out and Jorge Castillo's single down the right field line tied the game at two.
The 12th inning began with consecutive walks to Howes and Alec Lowrey and a sac bunt by Chris Cates, putting runners at second and third with one out. An intentional pass to Nick Haley loaded the bases setting the stage for Burton's game winner on an 0-1 pitch.
U of L starter B.J. Rosenberg pitched nine strong innings, giving up the two runs on just three hits and a walk, striking out a season-high seven. With the help of three double plays, he faced the minimum through the first four innings, and retired 13 of the last 14, including the final ten he faced, working perfect seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
Brian Halford (2-0) took over and struck out five in three innings, giving up just two hits to earn the win.
UCONN reliever Joe Smeraglino (0-1), the fourth Connecticut pitcher on the evening, took the loss, allowing a run on two hits and three walks in an inning and a third. He struck out one.
Burton and Alfonso each had three hits in the win.
Haley, a senior from Louisville's Pleasure Ridge Park High School, singled in the tenth, moving him into sole possession of 10th place on the U of L career hit list with 209. He is fifth in walks with 116.
Rosenberg also pitched his way into the record books, tying for fifth in career starts with 35, and moving into 10th place in innings pitched, having twirled 212.0 in two-plus seasons at U of L.
