University of Louisville
BUTLER
No. 10 Louisville Cruises Past Butler, 15-1
March 29, 2014 | Baseball
March 29, 2014
Senior catcher Shane Crain had a career best five RBI while matching career highs in hits and runs scored on Saturday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Gaining early command with strong pitching and offense, the No. 10 Louisville baseball team rolled to a 15-1 win over Butler on Saturday evening at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Senior catcher Shane Crain (Lexington, Ky.) led the way at the plate for the Cardinals (20-6) going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a career-best five RBI and three runs scored, while senior third baseman Alex Chittenden (Indianapolis, Ind.) was 2-for-4 with two RBI. On the mound, junior righty Jared Ruxer (Indianapolis, Ind.) improved to 5-1 on the season after allowing just one run and scattering eight hits with four strikeouts in six innings.
After a scoreless opening inning, Louisville scored in each of the next six innings, including a four-run third and a five-run sixth to cruise past the Bulldogs (10-15). The Cardinals started the scoring with two unearned runs in the second inning against Butler righty starter Kyle Allen. The inning began with an error by shortstop Marco Caponi on a groundball off the bat of junior infielder Zach Lucas (Louisville, Ky.). Moments later, Lucas scored the first run of the game after two more Butler errors - a throwing error by catcher Will Amador on a sacrifice bunt by freshman outfielder Colin Lyman (Algonquin, Ill.) and a throwing error by rightfielder Nick Bartolone attempting to get the ball back to the infield. Lyman then scored moments later on a RBI single to right by Chittenden for the 2-0 lead.
An inning later, Louisville added a four-spot on four hits against Allen, who was charged with the loss to drop to 3-3 overall after allowing seven earned runs and nine total runs on nine hits in five innings. The scoring in the third included a RBI single by Lyman, a two-run double by Crain and a RBI single by Chittenden.
The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-run single by Lucas and an additional run in the fifth on a RBI sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Sutton Whiting (New Wilmington, Pa.). After a run in the top of the sixth for the Bulldogs, Louisville scored five in the bottom of the inning for a 14-1 lead. The scoring included a bases loaded RBI walk for freshman outfielder Corey Ray (Chicago, Ill.), a three-run double by Crain and a RBI single by freshman Ryan Summers (Westfield, Mass.). The final run of the night came in the seventh inning on a RBI groundball off the bat of freshman Jordan Striegel (New Albany, Ind.).
Up next, Louisville will conclude the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m., ET against Xavier and admission is free.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
Louisville Postgame Notes
- Louisville holds a 13-3 lead in the all-time series with Butler and has won 11 straight overall.
- The Cardinals improved to 17-4 at home this season and 231-79 (.745 winning percentage) all-time at Jim Patterson Stadium since it opened in April 2005.
- Including the five-run sixth inning on Saturday, Louisville has scored five or more runs in an inning 11 times this season.
- The Cardinals scored in six straight innings on Saturday (second through the seventh) marking the fourth time this season they have scored in five or more consecutive innings in a game.
- Louisville played error-free baseball for the eighth time this season on Saturday and improved to 7-1 overall in such games.
- Saturday marked the 16th time in 26 games this season Louisville has allowed two or fewer earned runs in a game.
- Making his 28th career start, junior Jared Ruxer earned his 13th career collegiate win and is the Cardinals' active leader in both categories.
- Along with his career-best five RBI on Saturday, senior Shane Crain matched a career-high with three hits and three runs scored.
- Senior Cole Sturgeon, who tripled in the fourth inning on Saturday, has reached base safely in all 26 games this season and 32 straight overall.
