University of Louisville
CLEVELAND STATE <br><i>Game One </i>
Cardinals Sweep Twin Bill From Vikings
February 23, 2008 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior Zack Pitts twirled 5.1 scoreless innings in game one, and sophomore Justin Marks and freshman Gabriel Shaw combined on a one-hitter in the second game as the 22nd ranked University of Louisville swept a doubleheader from Cleveland State in Jim Patterson Stadium 13-5 in the opener and 4-2 in the nightcap, opening the 2008 season with a 2-0 record.
"We were able to blow the first game open late, but both games were a battle," noted UofL Head Coach Dan McDonnell.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of game one, when freshman Stewart Ijames, one of three first-year players in the lineup, singled to left after CSU starter Josh Hungerman sat down the first seven in order. Ijames stole second and moved to third on a bad throw, before an errant pick-off throw by CSU catcher Josh Geric, his second error in the inning made it 1-0.
A five spot in the fifth opened up the Cardinal lead. First baseman Andrew Clark walked and Chris Dominguez singled to open the frame and were both moved into scoring position on a sac bunt by Justin McClanahan. Freshman Phil Wunderlich drilled a double into the right field corner to make it 3-0. After a walk to Alec Lowrey, Derrick Alfonso sent a double down the line inside the third base bag, and they both scored on an Ijames single over the drawn in infield for a 6-0 lead.
Consecutive solo home runs off of Cardinal reliever Gavin Logsdon by pinch hitter Josh Lowe and Brad Buell cut the lead to 6-2 in the seventh, but UofL powered home seven more in the eighth to seal the win.
Alfonso was hit by a pitch and Ijames reached when a hard liner to center was dropped by Buell. Freshman Josh Richmond drove in a run with an RBI double in his first collegiate at bat, and fellow freshman Drew Haynes also doubled in a run. Clark then walked and Dominguez doubled in a pair, before senior Justin McClanahan smacked his first home run of the season over the fence in left for a 13-2 advantage.
CSU pushed across three in the ninth for the final margin.
Pitts (1-0), BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year, scattered four hits and three walks while striking out seven to earn the win. Logsdon was touched for the two runs on two hits and a walk, but fanned three, as the Cardinal pitchers struck out 14 in game one. Freshman Thomas Royse gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in 2.0 innings, striking out four.
Hungerman (0-1) also went 5.1 frames, but was touched for six runs, five of which were earned, on six hits and five walks, striking out two while taking the loss. Vasili Pahoulis gave up a pair of hits in a scoreless inning of work, while Drew Fronczek allowed a pair of unearned runs in an inning out of the pen.
Anthony Sambula did not record an out, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk, and Johnathan Sprowls allowed a run on a hit in two-thirds of an inning.
Dominguez was 3 for 5 at the plate, while Ijames also enjoyed a multi-hit effort in his collegiate debut, going 2 for 4.
McClanahan hammered his second home run of the day well on to the berm in left to open the second innings of game two to again put the Cards up 1-0.
The Vikings quickly responded, when Kyle Bischof's two-run double gave them a 2-1 lead in the fourth, but that would prove to be their only hit of the game.
Lowrey walked leading off the fifth and scrambled to third on a failed pick-off attempt by CSU starting pitcher Sam Suitca.
Sophomore Jeff Arnold singled home Lowrey to tie the game, and Ijames drilled a triple down the right field line to give the Cards the lead. Haynes singled in Ijames to up the lead to 4-2.
Marks (1-0) earned the win, but exited after struggling with his control a bit, walking four in five innings. He struck out four and surrendered two runs on just one hit.
That set the stage for Shaw's college debut, and he was dominant in earning his first career save, retiring all 12 batters he faced in four perfect innings, striking out seven.
"Gabriel was just phenomenal," McDonnell added.
"Justin and Zack did a nice job today. The expectations are so high, but this will give them something to build on."
Suitca (0-1) took the loss for the Vikings, allowing all four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two. Fronczek tossed three scoreless, giving up two runs and a walk to go with a strikeout.
Game two was a tidy two hours and one minute in length.
McClanahan and Lowrey supplied two hits apiece in game two, and finished the day a combined 6 for 11. Cardinal pitchers fanned 25 batters in 18 innings. Alfonso and Arnold combined with the pitching staff to limit the Vikings to one steal in five attempts.
The same two teams will meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Patterson Stadium. Admission is free.
