University of Louisville
Seton Hall *
Marks and Howes Direct Cards to 16-6 Win
April 21, 2007 | Baseball
April 21, 2007
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Freshman Justin Marks carried a no-hitter into the sixth and the University of Louisville offense scored the first 12 runs of the ballgame as the Cardinals drilled Seton Hall 16-6 Saturday.
"Justin Marks was outstanding again," Head Coach Dan McDonnell said.
"Even when we expanded the lead, he stayed very focused."
Louisville, who has won six of their last seven, put up a four-spot in the first.
Logan Johnson, Daniel Burton and Isaiah Howes pieced together consecutive singles in the first to put the Cards (26-11, 9-4 BIG EAST) on top 1-0. An out later Chris Dominguez was intentionally walked to load the bases and Justin McClanahan smoked the first pitch over Pirate centerfielder Dan Lopez's head for a bases-clearing triple and a 4-0 Cardinal advantage.
Chris Cates doubled down the left field line leading off the second, moved to third on a sac bunt by Boomer Whiting and scored on Johnson's second base hit of the game, making it 5-0.
After Matt Smedberg robbed Dominguez of extra bases with a diving catch in left center for the first out of the third inning and McClanahan was retired, the Cards put together a mini two-out rally. Derrick Alfonso and Cates both singled up the middle and after a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, Whiting belted a two-run single to center to up the edge to 7-0.
The Cardinal offense continued the torrid pace, putting up five runs in the top of the fifth, for a 12-0 lead.
McClanahan doubled and moved to third on a single by Alfonso. Cates hit a sac fly to right, Johnson drew his 100th career walk and Burton was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Howes.
The senior from Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park High School worked the count to 3-1 before belting his career-best 10th home run of the season and first grand slam of his career, giving the Cards a 12-0 lead. It was the first home run hit in 10 games this season at newly refurbished Carroll Field, which measures 405 to the alleys and 400 to center. It was the third Cardinal home run with the bases juiced this season.
Marks, who improved to 4-1 with the win, retired the first eight in order before hitting a batter. He then retired the side in order in the 4th and 5th innings, and captured the first two outs in the sixth before he hit Smedberg. A wild pitch nudged him to third and he scored on an RBI single by Mike Young to put the Pirates (18-18, 5-9 BIG EAST) on the board.
The top of the seventh began with Cates' second double of the game, and after a wild pitch, pinch hitter Greg Del George brought him home with a sac fly.
Matt Skopak scored John Walsh with an RBI groundout in the SHU seventh to make it 13-2.
Marks exited, tossing seven innings and allowing two runs on just three singles while striking out three.
Kyle Thortnon entered in the eighth and struggled, walking the bases loaded and giving up a triple to Walsh. Dan McDonald singled him home, cutting the lead to 13-6, but the Cards notched three in the ninth to put the Pirates away.
Cates reached on an error and Del George singled. Burton blistered a double down the left field line, scoring Cates, Lowrey was hit by a pitch and Pete Rodriguez reached on an error with the bases loaded, plating two more.
Thornton allowed the four runs on two hits and three walks, working the eighth. Skylar Meade allowed a hit, but then started a 1-6-3 double play, facing the minimum in the ninth.
SHU starter Dan Merklinger (4-5) took the loss, surrendering nine runs, eight of which were earned on 12 hits and two walks, striking out three. D.J. Cunningham was touched for three runs on a hit and a walk, fanning one in two-thirds of an inning.
"Offensively we were able to set the tone early a and never let Merklinger into a rhythm," McDonnell added.
"Sometimes the best way to beat a quality pitcher is to get to him early and our guys did a great job putting together a solid effort against a very good pitcher."
Chris McGlynn worked the final four innings for the Pirates, giving up four runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out four.
Burton and Cates each had three hits and scored three and four runs respectively. Johnson, McClanahan and Alfonso each had two hits, as did Howes, who tied a career high driving in five.
Johnson has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games. Whiting, who leads the nation in steals, swiped two more bags, giving him 48 on the season and placing him three shy of the career record of 90 established by Curtis Watson.
The Cardinals have scored 43 runs on 53 hits in their last three games.
U of L will look for a sweep Sunday at Noon. Colby Wark (2-2, 3.70 ERA) will start for the Cards and will face Seton Hall's Corey Young (2-3, 5.05 ERA), who was scheduled to start Saturday.
