University of Louisville
KENT STATE
Cards Edged by Kent State 4-2 in 10th
March 11, 2007 | Baseball
March 11, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After the University of Louisville tied the game at two in the bottom of the ninth, Kent State scored two in the tenth to capture a 4-2 win over the Cardinals Sunday in the final game of the Cardinal Baseball Classic. Cal topped Indiana State 4-1 earlier Sunday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
An RBI single by Jason Patton and a squeeze bunt by Chris Tremblay gave the Flashes (5-8) a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
Louisville (9-6) got a run back in the bottom of the third to trim the lead to a single run. Chris Cates extended his hit streak to 10 games with a two-out double and scored on Boomer Whiting's single to center.
Cardinal freshman Tyler Mathis went a career-long six innings, allowing just two run on six hits and a walk, striking out a career-best seven, but did not figure into the decision.
James Belanger came out of the pen and faced one over the minimum through the seventh-eighth and ninth.
Kent starter Evan Smith worked five strong innings, giving up a run on four hits while striking out two, and Chris Carpenter gave up a hit and two walks, striking out one in three innings of work.
Kent closer Ryan Davis took the hill in the ninth and surrendered a ringing double down the left field line by Johnson on his first pitch. Two outs later, Daniel Burton tapped a slow roller to the left of the mound. Davis retrieved it and threw to first where Burton slid in safely head first. In the meantime, third base coach Chris Lemonis waved Johnson around from second and he slid safely to the plate as the ball got away from Kent catcher Will Vazquez, knotting the game at two.
In the Flashes 10th with one out Jared Barthlomew reached on an error, and a single by Andrew Davis put runners at first and second. Anthony Gallas doubled home a run, and after an intentional walk to Vazquez loaded the bases, Greg Rohan drew a walk to make it 4-2.
Belanger (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs - one earned on three hits and three walks, fanning two in 3.1 IP. Skylar Meade entered with the bases loaded and one out and picked up a strikeout and a flyout to close the 10th.
The Cards went down in order in the bottom of the 10th.
Of the 20 half innings, eight times the side was retired in order - three times by the Cards, an seven other times just one over the minimum was faced in the pitcher's duel.
Davis (1-1) picked up the win, despite blowing the save, surrendering a run on two hits, striking out two in two innings.
Burton and Johnson each had two hits for the Cards, with Johnson's pair of doubles giving him 43 in his career, putting him in a three-way tie for ninth with Charlie Allen (90-93) and Isaiah Howes. Howes saw his hit streak snapped at a career-long 12 games.
Cates is now 10th in career at bats with 706, as he made his 177th consecutive start.
The Cardinals will have a midweek road game at Evansville, Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, before hosting Xavier for a three-game weekend series that will begin Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Patterson Stadium where admission is free.
Cal 4, Indiana State 1
Cal's Alex Rollin (4-1) allowed just one run, scattering five hits over 5.2 IP and striking out three to pick up the win for the Golden Bears (9-11) who were 2-1 on the weekend. The Sycamores (5-5) were 0-3 in the classic and managed just 14 hits over the three games. David Cooper drove in a pair of runs for the Bears in the win and was 5 for 9 with two doubles, two home runs, four walks and six RBI this weekend. Mat Gorgen picked up his third save of the season with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four.
