University of Louisville
Connecticut *
Four-Run Eighth Finishes Huskies 6-2
April 13, 2007 | Baseball
April 13, 2007
STORRS, Conn. - Isaiah Howes's two-run double highlighted a four-run eighth inning that guided the University of Louisville to a 6-2 win over UConn Friday in the series opener. Junior Zack Pitts logged his first career complete game on the mound for the Cards, scattering six hits and a walk while striking out seven.
The Cards (23-10, 7-3 BIG EAST) took a 2-0 lead in the second. Derrick Alfonso singled to open the frame, moved to second on a sac bunt by Chris Cates, and advanced to third on a bunt single by Boomer Whiting. Logan Johnson's RBI single put the first run of the game on the board and Daniel Burton's sac fly scored Whiting.
Pete Fatse's RBI single in the bottom of the third inning plated an unearned run and cut the lead to one, and the Huskies knotted the game at two with a run in the fourth.
The Cardinal eighth began with consecutive singles by Whiting and Johnson and an intentional walk to Justin McClanahan that loaded the bases. Chris Dominguez was hit by a pitch to push across the tie-breaking run. Howes then drilled a ball off the base of the fence in right to make it 5-2. Howes eventually scored on a balk for the final run of the game.
Pitts improved to 6-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.12, allowing just one earned runs. After a two-out single by UConn's Pat Mahoney in the sixth, Pitts retired the final 10 batters of the game, recording four of his strikeouts and 1-2-3 seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
UConn (14-17, 3-7 BIG EAST) starter Mike Tarsi (2-3) was saddled with the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk, striking out four in 7.1 innings. Matt Karl fanned one in two-thirds of an inning and Will Musson allowed a hit in the ninth.
Whiting, Johnson and Cates each had two hits, while Burton extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games.
Due to an impending storm that is set to hit the region on Sunday, the Cardinals and Huskies will now play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET.
