University of Louisville
CINCINNATI*
Dominguez and Ijames Power Cards to 13-4 Win
April 26, 2008 | Baseball
April 26, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After trailing 3-0 early, the University of Louisville offense exploded for 13 of the final 14 runs of the game, defeating Cincinnati 13-4 to even the series at a game apiece. The rubber game will be played Sunday in Jim Patter Stadium on with a start time that has been moved to 12:00 p.m. ET.
For the second consecutive game, the Bearcats (25-16, 12-5 BIG EAST) staked themselves to a lead in the first when a leadoff walk to Tony Campana turned into a run on Mike Spina's sac fly to center.
UC added two more in the third on an RBI single by Spina and a popup to second with the bases loaded that induced an infield fly rule to go in effect. Cardinal second baseman Justin McClanahan lost the ball in the sun and after it dropped, runners at second and third attempted to advance, with Jamel Scott scoring from third and Josh Harrison getting thrown out at third to complete the double play and end the inning with UC holding a 3-0 lead.
Freshman Drew Haynes hit a two-out single in the bottom of the third for the Cards (25-16, 9-8 BIG EAST) and John Dao tripled down the right field line, putting UofL on the board.
Stewart Ijames tripled to the same corner with one away in the fifth and scored on a double that Tyler Mickits wired down the line to cut the lead to one.
Haynes then singled and John Dao beat a relay to first in an attempt to turn the double play, allowing Mickits to score from third and tie the game at three.
UC manufactured an unearned run with a pair of walks and a fielding error to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Cards would score the next 10 runs to run away with the win.
McClanahan reached with one away in the sixth on a fielding error, and Chris Dominguez drilled a 3-1 pitch out to left for his league-leading 14th home run of the season and a 5-4 Cardinal lead.
An out later Jeff Arnold drew a walk and Ijames blistered his fourth home run of the season - all in BIG EAST games, over the fence in right, extending the lead to 7-4.
In the seventh, Dao and Phil Wunderlich singled ahead of a two-run double by McClanahan that made it 9-4 Cards.
Dominguez was then walked intentionally and Andrew Clark drew a walk that loaded the bases for Arnold, who extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games with an RBI single. An RBI groundout by Ijames capped the five run inning.
The final piece of insurance came in the eighth when Dao doubled and eventually scored on a sac fly to center by Dominguez.
Justin Marks tossed 5.1 innings, but struggled with his control, giving up four runs, two of which were earned on four hits and five walks, matching a career high. Marks struck out seven, but did not figure into the decision.
Thomas Royse (3-0) entered with two on in the sixth and worked out of the jam, on his way to 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. He gave up just two hits and struck out a career-high six.
UC starter Michael Hill (3-3) took the loss, surrendering seven runs, four of which were earned on seven hits and two walks in 6.0 innings. He struck out five. Two Bearcat relievers followed him to the mound.
Dao enjoyed his first three-hit game of the season, driving in a pair, while Ijames and Haynes added two hits apiece. Seven of the Cards' 12 hits went for extra bases. Ijames and Dominguez each drove in three runs.
