University of Louisville
Vanderbilt
No. 21 Cardinals Clipped by No. 5 Commodores
March 04, 2008 | Baseball
March 4, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The 21st-ranked University of Louisville baseball team fell behind early, and were never able to get back into the game, falling to No. 5 Vanderbilt 17-6 Tuesday.
Cardinal pitchers walked 10 and hit three batters, as two fielding errors, a wild pitch and two passed balls made life easier for the Vanderbilt offense.
The Commodores (6-2) took a 3-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by Ryan Flaherty and a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Jonathan White. VU batted around in the first, leaving the bases loaded.
A single by Curt Casali and a double off the bat of Steve Liddle was followed by a three-run home run by Alex Feinberg that made it 6-0 Vandy in the third.
The Commodores piled on four more runs in the fourth on just one hit - a leadoff double by Dominic de la Osa. Consecutive RBI singles by Alex Fineberg and Brian Harris put the lead to 12-0 after six innings, before the Cards could break through.
Justin McClanahan hit a one-out single and Andrew Clark followed with a triple off the base of the wall in right-center for the first Cardinal (4-3) run. Josh Richmond's sac fly to center made it 12-2 VU.
A solo home run by de la Osa opened the seventh and upped the cushion a run, before the Cards put together a mini rally in the eighth.
Derrick Alfonso singled sharply, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a single by Nate Holland. Jeff Arnold drilled an RBI double to left center and Chris Dominguez followed with an RBI single of his own. A McClanahan double down the line plated another run and an RBI groundout by Clark cut the lead to 13-6, but the Commodores put the game away with four runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth.
James Belanger (0-1) struggled on the hill for the Cards, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks, striking out two in just 2.1 innings. Neil Holland lasted an inning and two-thirds, but was touched for four runs, three of which were earned, despite giving up just one hit. He gave up three walks and a pair of hit batters, striking out four.
Thomas Royse surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out five in a career-long 3.1 innings, while Bob Revesz booked the final two outs, allowing two runs - one earned, on three hits and a walk.
Caleb Cotham (1-0) tired in the seventh, but picked up the win, allowing four runs on seven hits and just one walk, striking out nine in 7.1 IP.
McClanahan had three of the 11 UofL hits, with Clark the only other Cardinal enjoying a multi-hit effort. Jared Wondra hit a pinch single for his first hit as a Cardinal.
The 11-run margin was the largest in Head Coach Dan McDonnell's brief tenure. The Cards lost by six runs twice in 2007.
The Cardinals have their next 13 games in the friendly confines of Jim Patterson Stadium, beginning Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET when they host Eastern Kentucky. Northwestern visits for a weekend series beginning Friday at 2:00 p.m. Admission to all regular season home games is free.
