University of Louisville
at #23 Kentucky
Cards Lose Heartbreaker In Ninth to Cats
April 05, 2006 | Baseball
April 5, 2006
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Antone DeJesus' RBI single to center with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth gave Kentucky a 5-4 win over the University of Louisville Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Cardinals equalled a season-high, stranding 14 runners on base in the loss.
Nick Haley singled to lead off the ballgame and after Chris Cates followed with a walk, Logan Johnson moved them both into scoring position with his sixth sac bunt of the season. Junior Daniel Burton fell behind 0-2, but worked the count to full and rolled the payoff pitch up the middle for a 2-0 Cardinal (12-17) lead.
The Cards twice loaded the bases; with two out in the third and with nobody out in the fourth, but were unable to extend their lead.
In the bottom of the fourth with one away, UK (23-7) right fielder Collin Cowgill's solo home run cut the lead to one, and an RBI single by DH Billy Grace tied the game at two.
It was Cowgill again in the sixth inning for the Cats with an RBI double to the gap in left that scored Antone DeJesus to make it 3-2. David Torcise entered for the Cards and picked Cowgill off at second on what UK Head Coach John Cohen believed was a balk. After a spirited rhubarb, first base umpire John Bennett tossed Cohen.
Michel Bertram then reached on an error, and after a walk to Ryan Stieby, Grace singled home Bertram for a 4-2 advantage.
The Cardinals loaded the bases for the fourth time on the evening in the top of the eighth. Isaiah Howes reached on catcher's interference, Alec Lowrey singled and Haley reached on his second bunt single of the game.
Cates was then hit by a pitch to push across the third Cardinal run of the game and a deep sac fly to center by Johnson tied the game at four.
That set the stage for the fateful ninth. John Shelby singled, and Sean Coughlin and Ryan Wilkes walked to load the bases for DeJesus.
It was the third consecutive one-run loss at the hands of the Cats.
Zach Dials (1-1), the fifth UK pitcher of the game got the final out of the ninth and gave up a hit to pick up the win.
Brian Halford was tagged with the loss, allowing the run on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in an inning and a third. His record falls to 2-1 on the season.
U of L starter Jake Smith went a season- long five strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out two. Jon Harbridge was touched for a run without recording an out on a hit and a hit batsmen. Torcise allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in a third of an inning.
Griffin Bailey walked two and struck out one in an inning and two thirds.
The Cards out hit UK 11-8 on the evening, and is now 11-6 when out hitting the opponent this season.
Louisville will head to Washington D.C. for a three game series against Georgetown beginning Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
