University of Louisville
at USF *
Cards Edge Bulls Saturday 5-4
April 15, 2006 | Baseball
April 15, 2006
TAMPA, Fl. - A three-run fourth inning lifted the University of Louisville to a lead they would never relinquish in a 5-4 win over USF Saturday afternoon at Red McEwen Field.
Nick Haley singled to open the ballgame, moved to second on a sac bunt by Chris Cates and was balked to third. After a walk to Logan Johnson, Derrick Alfonso's sac fly plated Haley for a 1-0 Cardinal (16, 20, 7-5 BIG EAST) lead.
The Bulls took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Brandin Daniel and an error by U of L third baseman Casey Albanese that plated Matt McHargue.
Two more Cardinal errors on consecutive plays plated another USF run for a 3-1 advantage.
In the third inning, with runners at first and second with one away, Alfonso hit a chopper over the first base bag in what appeared to be fair territory. First base umpire Tony Gisondi ruled the ball foul, potentially costing the Cards a run. First base coach James McAuley was then ejected for arguing the call, and later in the at bat Alfonso lined into an inning-ending double play.
Then in the fourth, after Jorge Castillo singled, Daniel Burton appeared to be hit by a pitch, but was brought back by home plate umpire Bill Lopina for leaning into the pitch. That brought U of L Head Coach Lelo Prado out of the dugout to argue and he was then tossed from the game.
Ironically, Burton was hit again in the at bat and Pete Rodriguez singled to load the bases. Back-to-back walks to Alec Lowrey and Albanese plated two runs and a sac fly off the bat of Cates gave the Cards a 4-3 lead.
Lowrey doubled to leadoff the sixth and later scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Cates for a 5-3 margin.
An RBI single by Daniel plated Addison Maruszak to edge the Bulls (17-20, 7-8 BIG EAST) to within one, but Griffin Bailey then shut the door for the Cards retiring eight of the next nine.
U of L closer, and all-time appearance leader Brian Halford was called upon to start and earned the win - his 16th of his career, placing him in a four-way tie for ninth on the career list. Halford (3-1) gave up two earned runs on six hits and two walks while fanning seven in 5.2 innings.
Gavin Logsdon picked up the last out of the sixth, striking out Ty Taborelli, the only batter Logsdon faced.
Bailey picked up save number two on the season with three innings of relief, allowing a run on three hits and a walk, striking out two.
USF starter Davis Bilardello (1-3) took the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits and two walks in three-plus innings. He struck out two.
Haley, Johnson, Castillo, Rodriguez and Lowrey each had two hits on the afternoon.
U of L will look to even the season series against Kentucky on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET in Jim Patterson Stadium. Admission is free.
