University of Louisville
#28 Miami <br>(NCAA Regionals)
Alfonso, Burton and Hollander Lift Cards to Historic Win
June 01, 2007 | Baseball
June 1, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Louisville scored the final 10 runs of the ballgame and Cardinal pitching limited Miami (FL) to just one base hit over the final six innings as the Cardinals recorded their first-ever win in an NCAA Regional, defeating the Hurricanes 13-7 Friday afternoon at Taylor Stadium.
"I'm really happy for the ball club. We never gave up even though we got behind early," said Head Coach Dan McDonnell.
The Cardinals (41-20) loaded the bases in the first with two out, but could not cash in.
Miami (36-23) also loaded the bases, but with one away, and a sacrifice fly by Dennis Raben put the Canes on top 1-0.
Derrick Alfonso served up the first of a career-high five hits, lining a one-out single in the second and Chris Cates reached on an error. A fielder's choice by Boomer Whiting put runners at the corners with two out and Logan Johnson was plunked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored a run and senior Daniel Burton drilled a two-run single to left, putting the Cards up 3-1.
Miami answered in the bottom of the second.
A solo home run by Richard O'Brien cut the lead to one and a bases-loaded triple by Jemile Weeks put the Canes up 5-3. RBI singles by Mark Sobolewski and Gus Menendez chased Cardinal starter Zack Pitts and capped the six-run frame with UM on top 7-3.
Gavin Logsdon (2-0) came in out of the bullpen and after a walk he induced a fielder's choice to end the inning.
" Zack Pitts has an abnormally tough outing and it was good to see the club pick him up after what he has done for the club all year. Again the bullpen did an outstanding job keeping us in the game and allowing the offense to do their job."
Pitts surrendered seven runs on eight hits and a walk in an inning and two-thirds.
With two out in the third, Alfonso drilled his fifth home run of the season over the bullpen down the left field line to cut the lead to 7-4.
After Logsdon induced an inning-ending double-play with the bases loaded in the third, the Cardinal bats stepped into the box in the fourth and tied the game at seven.
Johnson was hit by a pitch for the third time in the ballgame with one out, tying a school record. It was the 29th time on the season and 71st time in his career, both school records, with the latter total placing him alone in fifth in NCAA history. The single season total ties him for fifth in NCAA record books.
Burton singled and after a fielder's choice groundout by Isaiah Howes, Jorge Castillo belted his sixth home run down the right-field line on a 1-1 pitch to knot the game.
Cates walked to open the fifth and stole second. A walk to Whiting put two on, an as Johnson struck out, Whiting and Cates executed a double steal to put two in scoring position for Burton.
The senior from New Albany, Indiana belted a 2-1 pitch up the middle, scoring two for a 9-7 Cardinal lead that they would never relinquish.
UM starter Scott Maine allowed seven runs, four of which were earned on seven hits, two walks and four hit batters, striking out one in four innings.
He gave way to Kyle Bellamy (0-1) who took the loss, allowing two runs on a pair of walks in a third of an inning. Teddy Kaufman retired the only batter he faced.
Howes drilled his fifth home run in his last five games, a towering shot to the gap in left with one away in the seventh, extending the lead to 10-7.
Whiting's RBI single to left scored Alfonso, who had singled, and a deep fly ball to nearly the same spot by Johnson that was mishandled for an error brought in Cates, who had walked making it 12-7 in the eighth.
Chris Dominguez was hit by a pitch to open the ninth, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Pete Rodriguez, before Alfonso recorded his fifth hit of the ballgame, singling over a drawn-in infield to close the scoring.
Logsdon picked up the win, working 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits and two walks, striking out one.
The story for the Cardinals on the hill was senior Kyle Hollander, who retired all 12 he faced, striking out five to equal career highs in both categories.
Trystan Magnuson gave up an infield single and struck out one in the ninth. He has how pitched in 32 games this season, tying Carlos Fernandez for second in school history. His 3.08 ERA is the lowest career number in the history of Cardinal baseball and his 67 career outings is ninth.
Burton drove in a season-high four runs, as he, Whiting and Howes joined Alfonso with multi-hit efforts.
Miami, with 105 NCAA postseason wins, was making its record-setting 35th consecutive NCAA appearance.
The Cardinals will play top seeded Missouri Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Tigers (41-16) defeated fourth-seed Kent State 10-2 in the second game Friday.
