University of Louisville
Villanova
Cards Cruise To Semis With 14-3 Win Over Villanova
May 22, 2008 | Baseball
May 21, 2008
2008 BIG EAST Championship Bracket in PDF Format 
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of Louisville pounded out nine extra base hits, on their way to a 14-3 win over Villanova that was ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule. The victory sends the Cardinals to the 2008 BIG EAST Championship semifinals on Friday where they will face the winner of a Thursday elimination game between the fifth-seeded Seton Hall Pirates and eighth-seeded Villanova.
This marks the third time in as many BIG EAST Championships that the Cards have won their first two, with the 2006 squad eventually advancing to the championship game.
The fourth-seeded Cardinals (39-19) took a 2-0 lead with a two-out rally in the second.
Jeff Arnold walked and scampered to third on a hit and run single by Andrew Clark. Freshman DH Phil Wunderlich then singled home Arnold and a double to right center by Drew Haynes made it 2-0 Cards.
Josh Richmond opened a four-run third with a single to center, moved to second on a balk and scored on a triple off of the wall in center by Justin McClanahan. Chris Dominguez single home McClanahan and Stewart Ijames planted the subsequent pitch on to the berm in right-center for his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot that made it 6-0 Cards.
A pair of bunt singles and a sacrifice lead to a two-run bloop single to center by VU's Derek Shunk that cut the lead to 6-2.
In the Cardinal fifth, Ijames doubled down the right field line, stole third and scored when the throw down to the bag sailed down the left field line, making it 7-2.
An out later, Clark walked and Wunderlich singled ahead of a ground ball to short off the bat of Haynes that could not be turned into an inning-ending double play, scoring a run.
John Dao doubled off the wall in left, driving in a run, and Richmond and McClanahan followed with RBI doubles of their own, giving UofL an 11-2 cushion.
A solo home run by Ryan Arcadia in the fifth served as the final run of the game for the Wildcats (29-27).
In the top of the seventh, Dao opened the inning with a single up the middle and scored on McClanahan's second double, and third extra base hit of the game. It was the senior second baseman's 25th two-bagger of the season, second in school history.
Dominguez followed by hammering a 3-2 breaking ball not only over the fence in right, but out of the confines of Bright House Field completely, for the BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year's league-leading 19th home run of the season. The 19 jacks is tied for eighth on the single season list at UofL and his 34 career home runs in two seasons is tied for 10th.
A team leading by 10 or more runs after seven win by rule in the BIG EAST Championship, so Cardinal closer B.J. Rosenberg was brought in for the seventh.
Starter Justin Marks worked the first six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out seven to improve to 8-1 on the season.
Rosenberg made quick work of the Wildcats, allowing a single and striking out the side in the seventh to end the game.
VU starter Jordan Ellis (3-6) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks in 2.1 IP. Four Wildcat relievers followed Ellis on the hill.
McClanahan and Richmond each had three hits, while Dao, Dominguez, Ijames and Wunderlich each had two of the Cards' 16 hits. Six different Cardinals scored two runs.
Dominguez has now scored 65 runs on the season, tying for 10th in Louisville history, and his 71 RBI is tied for eighth.
Marks moves into a tie for fourth in career wins with 17, and sixth in single season victories. His 82 strikeouts this season is tied for tenth all-time.
Arnold was plunked for the 13th time on the season, placing him in a three-way tie for ninth in UofL single season history.
A win on Friday would place the Cardinals into the title game Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET. A loss Friday would pit the Cards against the same opponent Friday at 5:00 for the right to play in the championship game.
