University of Louisville
BALL STATE
Dominguez Powers Cards Past Ball State Tuesday
May 13, 2008 | Baseball
May 13, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Chris Dominguez belted two home runs and drove in a season-high six runs to power the University of Louisville to a 9-3 win over Ball State Tuesday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Ball State (26-21) turned a leadoff ground-rule double by Dean Anna into a 1-0 lead in the first on a sac fly by Kory Benbow.
In the Cardinal (35-18) half of the fourth, Josh Richmond drew a leadoff walk, and a single by Justin McClanahan put two runners in scoring position when he took second on the late throw to third.
Up stepped Dominguez to the plate, and after falling behind 1-2, he powdered the next pitch on to the terrace in left for a three-run home run, his BIG EAST-leading 17th of the season, giving the Cards a 3-1 lead.
A one-out solo home run off the bat of BSU number nine hitter T.J. Baumet, his sixth of the season, cut the lead to a single run in the fifth, and an RBI single by Kolbrin Vitek knotted the game at three in the top of the sixth.
Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Richmond crushed a 1-0 pitch over the fence in center for his fifth home run of the season, and a 4-3 Cardinal lead that they would never relinquish.
The next pitch, McClanahan drilled into the alley in left for his 19th double of the season, tying him for ninth on the single season doubles list.
Dominguez then fell behind in the count again, one ball and two strikes, before a hanging breaking ball turned into a towering two-run shot and a 6-3 UofL advantage. The sophomore has four home runs in his last 13 at bats. It is the third time this season he has hit two home runs in a game and the sixth time in his career.
In the seventh, Drew Haynes and pinch hitter Phil Wunderlich put runners at the corners with consecutive singles, the second coming on a perfectly executed hit and run. A balk scored Haynes and after a wild pitch sent Wunderlich to third, he was replaced by pinch runner Jared Wondra, who scored on Dominguez's fifth sac fly of the season.
Jeff Arnold crushed a solo home run on to the terrace in left opening the eighth, his second of the season and the fourth of the game for the Cards, the second time this season they have sent four out of the yard. Louisville hit four out in a win at Ohio State on April 16.
Starter Matt Lea allowed two runs on five hits, striking out five in five innings.
He was replaced by Gabriel Shaw, who improved his record to 4-3 on the year, giving up a run on four hits, striking out three in two innings of work.
Freshman Neil Holland followed and struck out two, walking one in an inning of relief. Gavin Logsdon finished things up, walking one in a hitless ninth.
Ball State sent seven pitchers to the hill. Reliever Aaron Hammons entered to pitch the fateful sixth, and allowed three runs on five hits without retiring the batter in taking the loss, dropping his record to 2-4.
Haynes now has a career-best nine game hit streak with his 2 for 4 effort.
McClanahan and Dominguez each had two hits as well, while Arnold's three hits paced the UofL attack.
The Cardinals are 19-5 in their last 24 games and have won 11 of 13.
The Cards host Rutgers (22-27-1, 10-14 BIG EAST), who is currently in ninth place in the BIG EAST, for the final three games of the regular season in a Thursday, Friday, Saturday set with first pitches scheduled for 6:00, 6:00 and 1:00 p.m. ET. Louisville (14-10 BIG EAST) has clinched a birth into the eight-team BIG EAST Championship, which is scheduled to take place May 20-24 in Clearwater, Florida. The Cards are currently in a tie for the fourth spot with Seton Hall, and two games behind third place Cincinnati.
Admission to all three games this weekend is free.
