University of Louisville
VILLANOVA*
Cardinal Nine Tops Villanova 12-5 Friday
April 18, 2008 | Baseball
April 18, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville offense pounded out 14 hits and scored in double figures for a fifth consecutive BIG EAST game, defeating Villanova 12-5 in the series opener Friday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium. The Cardinals have won six of their last seven.
John Dao reached on a throwing error by Derek Shunk and Josh Richmond drilled a 2-0 pitch on to a jam-packed terrace in left field for his third home run of the season and a 2-0 Cardinal lead in the first. It was the 11th time the Cards (22-14, 7-6 BIG EAST) have scored in the first inning, posting a 10-1 record in those games.
Senior Justin McClanahan doubled off the fence in left with one away in the third and later scored on Andrew Clark's ground-rule double to right for a 3-0 UofL lead.
The Wildcats (17-19, 4-9 BIG EAST) knotted the game in the top of the sixth on Wesley Borden's three-run home run to left on a payoff pitch, his fourth of the season.
Louisville busted out for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 9-3 lead, sending 12 to the plate in the inning.
Stewart Ijames doubled with one out, Kyle Cheesebrough was hit by a pitch and Drew Haynes singled home Ijames. A pop-up to right by Dao was dropped by VU second baseman Ryan Arcadia loading the bases. An RBI fielder's choice of the bat of Richmond scored another, and after a walk to McClanahan reloaded the bases, Chris Dominguez singled home two more.
Clark then singled home McClanahan, and Jeff Arnold and Ijames drew consecutive walks to push home another run for a 9-3 lead.
The Wildcats manufactured a pair of runs in the eighth to cut the lead to four, but three in the eighth sealed it for UofL. The inning could have been worse for the Cards, but Dao fielded a ball that glanced off of Cardinal pitcher Jon Clarence with two on, Dao stepped on the bag at second, throwing to first to complete the 1-6-3 double play.
Clark and Arnold hit back-to-back doubles, and after an intentional walk to Ijames and an infield single by haynes loaded the bases again, Dao smoked a two-run single to left for the 12-5 final.
Zack Pitts started for the Cardinals and improved his record to 5-3 with the win, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, fanning six in 6.1 IP. Thomas Royse worked two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen, giving up a run on a hit and a walk. Clarence gave up a run on two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Gavin Logsdon allowed a hit and a walk and did not retire a batter.
Freshman Neil Holland entered with the tying run on deck in the eighth and induced a pop-up that ended the inning. He walked one and struck out one in 1.1 IP to earn his first career save.
Clark had three hits, as did Haynes, the first three hit game of the freshman's career. Every starter collected a hit for the Cards, who have double figures in the hit column in eight of their last nine. Dominguez has a career-best 10 game hit streak.
Game two of the series is set for 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Patterson Stadium. Admission is free.
