University of Louisville
USF
Baseball Takes Series-Opener from USF, 6-4
April 21, 2011 | Baseball
April 21, 2011
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Haynes and Wright Discuss Thursday's Win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior infielder Ryan Wright finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, while senior outfielder Drew Haynes added two RBI and a run scored as the Louisville baseball team earned a 6-4 series-opening victory over visiting USF on Thursday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 21-16 overall and 7-6 in BIG EAST games, while the Bulls dropped to 18-19 on the season and 7-6 in league action with the loss. The two teams are scheduled to continue the weekend series on Friday at 6 p.m., while Saturday's series finale is set for 1 p.m. Visit www.UofLSports.com throughout the weekend for any weather related schedule changes for the series.
Louisville used a five-run seventh inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and halt its six-game losing skid, the longest for the Cardinals since 2004. The decisive inning started with a leadoff single from freshman Ryan Seiz (Perkasie, Pa./Christopher Dock HS), who moved to second on a fielding error by leftfielder Junior Carlin, advanced to third on a groundout and scored the first run of the frame on an RBI single to left field by freshman catcher Kyle Gibson (Henderson, Ky./Henderson County HS).
After stolen bases by pinch runner Adam Engel (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland HS) and Gibson, both scored on a two-run single by Haynes off USF starter Randy Fontanez to put the Cardinals in front for good at 4-3. Two batters later, Wright pushed the Louisville advantage to 6-3 on a two-run double to left center off USF reliever Nick Gonzalez.
Gibson finished the night going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Seiz was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the win. Overall, the Cardinals out-hit the Bulls 9-6. On the mound, junior right-hander Travis Tingle (Louisville, Ky./Butler HS) earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the season while allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief, while junior righty Tony Zych (Monee, Ill./St. Rita HS) pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 10th save of the season. Junior right-hander Derek Self (Cave City, Ky./Caverna HS) made his first start of the season for the Cardinals and finished with a no-decision after allowing three runs on four hits in a career-long 6.2 innings of work.
For USF, Fontanez took the loss to drop to 4-3 overall after allowing five runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings. At the plate, Carlin led the Bulls going 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.
Following a scoreless top of the first inning, the Cardinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the frame as freshman infielder Ty Young (Coatesville, Pa./Malvern Prep) reached base with a one-out single, moved to second on a wild pitch from Fontanez and scored on an RBI single to center by Wright for the 1-0 advantage.
The score remained that way until the sixth inning when USF moved in front for the first time at 2-1 on an RBI single by shortstop Sam Mende and an RBI sacrifice fly to left by outfielder James Ramsay. The Bulls added another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to center by Carlin to push the advantage to 3-1 before Louisville regained control for good in the bottom of the frame. The Bulls added their final run in the eighth inning on an RBI groundout by designated hitter Daniel Rockhold before Zych closed it out in the ninth.
The Cardinals have won five straight against the Bulls and nine of the last 10 overall in the series. After Thursday's victory, Louisville is tied for fifth in the BIG EAST Conference standings with USF. Thursday marked just the fourth time this season Louisville has scored at least five runs in a single inning and the first time since a five-run seventh inning at Rutgers on March 26.
