University of Louisville
TENNESSEE
Cardinal Nine Edged by Vols, 7-6 Wednesday
March 19, 2008 | Baseball
March 19, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A rally by the University of Louisville baseball team fell short Wednesday, as the No. 30 Tennessee Volunteers edged the Cardinals 7-6 on a chilly evening at Jim Patterson Stadium.
For the first time this season, Louisville (9-6) has lost consecutive games.
A two-run home run by Vols (13-5) centerfielder Kentrail Davis in the top of the first to give UT a 2-0 lead.
Cardinal third baseman Chris Dominguez unloaded on a 2-1 pitch, drilling it out to center to open the second inning, cutting the lead in half. It was his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
Davis struck again for a solo shot in the third to put the lead back to two runs.
In the Cardinal third, a pair of Tennessee errors sandwiched a single by Nate Holland to load the bases, and senior Justin McClanahan belted a two-run single up the middle to knot the game at three.
Cardinal catcher Derrick Alfonso, who had already pegged two runners on the bases and sealed off the plate on a throw from right in the first, blasted his second home run of the season off the batter's eye in center to give the Cards their first lead of the game.
Walks to Josh Richmond and Holland set up an RBI single by Andrew Clark, extending the advantage to 5-3, but the Vols responded in the top of the seventh.
Jeff Lockwood doubled and Jarred Frazier cracked a two-run home run to right, tying the game at five.
Gavin Logsdon (0-1) came in out of the pen to replace Cardinal starter James Belanger, who had allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out five in six-plus innings.
Three straight singles gave the Vols the lead, and after an intentional walk to Davis, an RBI single by Cody Brown scored what turned out to be the game winner.
UofL loaded the bases in the eighth with nobody out on another UT error and singles by Richmond and Drew Haynes, but managed just one run on a sac fly to right by Clark.
Logsdon gave up two runs on four hits and the intentional pass, striking out three in an inning of work, while taking the loss.
Neil Holland retired all four batters he faced, fanning a pair and Bob Revesz struck out the only two batters he faced, including Davis on three pitches.
UT starter Ty'Relle Harris (1-0) was the winner, despite allowing six runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits and four walks in seven-plus innings pitched. He struck out five. Danny Wiltz earned his second save of the season, striking out one in two scoreless innings of relief.
Louisville will host UConn in the BIG EAST opener Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in a weekend series that will start a day early due to the Easter holiday weekend.
Admission to all regular season home games is free.
