University of Louisville
Stetson
Cardinals Top Hatters 11-4 Saturday
February 24, 2007 | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2007
DELAND, Fla. - The University of Louisville offense scored nine runs in the first four innings and senior Kyle Hollander's four innings of hitless relief sealed an 11-4 win over Stetson Saturday night to even the weekend series at one game apiece.
Cardinal Head Coach Dan McDonnell was pleased with how the team attacked offensively.
"Offensively one through nine we came out of the gate and had our best offensive game of the season."
The Cardinals (3-3) struck for three runs in the top of the first. Boomer Whiting singled up the middle and stole second to lead of the inning. Chris Cates walked and a wild pitch moved the runners up a station before Chris Dominguez's groundout plated Whiting.
Jorge Castillo then singled home Cates and Isaiah Howes smoked a 1-0 pitch into the gap in left center to score Castillo all the way from first for the 3-0 advantage.
Stetson (7-3) responded with a run in the bottom of the frame when Shane Jordan tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Casey Frawley to make it 3-1 Cards.
Whiting drew a two out walk in the second and scored on Logan Johnson's first double of the season upping the lead to 4-1.
Daniel Burton singled with one away in the third, stole second and scored on a pair of wild pitches for a 5-1 advantage.
Cates walked to open the four-run fourth and moved to second on a sac bunt by Whiting. Johnson was hit by a pitch and Dominguez singled home Cates. Castillo then plated Johnson with his second hit of the game and Dominguez scored when Burton reached on a fielding error by the pitcher. Howes singled to load the bases and Derrick Alfonso's RBI single put the Cards on top 9-1.
Stetson struck for three in the fifth on an RBI double by Jordan and a two-run single off the bat of Braedyn Pruitt to trim the lead to 9-4.
Cardinal starter Tyler Mathis (1-0) worked five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out three to pick up his first career victory.
Andrew Salguiero entered in the sixth, but struggled, walking one and allowing a bloop single to right before falling behind 3-1 to Jeremy Cruz. It was then Hollander entered, fired a first pitch strike and then induced a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to left to end the threat.
"Tyler Mathis gave us another quality start and Kyle Hollander came into the game when the momentum began to shift and shut the door," McDonnell added.
Cates doubled with one away in the ninth and scored on Johnson's triple off the top of the wall in right. Johnson then scored on Dominguez's RBI single for the final margin.
Hollander gave up just two baserunners one on a walk and the other an error, striking out five to earn his first save. He has now tossed six hitless innings to begin the season.
Louisville chased Stetson starter Jake Hitchcock (1-1), who took the loss, in the first inning. He surrendered three runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Drew Jackson was touched for three runs on two hits and three walks in 2.2 IP, fanning a pair. Andy Mauldin gave up two earned runs on five hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts. Nick Pugliese worked the final 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on six hits, striking out three.
Every starter picked up a hit for the Cardinals. Johnson and Howes each had three-hit games, while Dominguez, Castillo and Burton added multi-hit efforts.
Dominguez's three RBI lead the team as did Johnson's three runs scored. The offense pounded out a season-high 16 hits.
The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET with U of L freshman lefty Justin Marks (0-0, 0.00 ERA) set to face off against Stetson senior southpaw Chris Ingoglia (1-1, 4.15 ERA).
