University of Louisville
MIAMI (OHIO)
Miami Wins Series-Opener Over No. 10 Louisville, 6-4
March 08, 2014 | Baseball
March 7, 2014
Junior Grant Kay connected for his second home run of the season on a three-run shot to left.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Playing for the first time since last Saturday evening, the 10th-ranked Louisville baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision to visiting Miami (Ohio) in Friday's series-opener at Jim Patterson Stadium.
The RedHawks (4-6) jumped to a 6-1 advantage after four innings and then held off several late challenges from the Cardinals (8-4) for the win. The two teams will continue three-game series on Saturday at noon ET, while Sunday's weekend finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Louisville struck first in Friday's opener when Sutton Whiting (New Wilmington, Pa.) singled up the middle, stole second and third and then scored on an error by catcher John Crummy when he sailed a throw over the head of third baseman Dan Walsh. However, the lead was short-lived as the RedHawks answered with two in the second inning on a bases loaded RBI walk to outfielder Jake Romano and a RBI single by outfielder Matt Honchel against Cardinals' junior lefty Joe Filomeno (Cicero, Ill.).
Miami added to its lead in the third inning with a three-run frame, including a pair of unearned runs. The scoring started with a RBI double to right center by Walsh to plate outfielder Jacob Wolf. After a fielding error by Whiting extended the inning, a throwing error by freshman righty Jake Sparger (Eau Claire, Wis.) on a pick-off throw to first allowed Walsh to score from third. A run-scoring single by first baseman Kendall Johnson plated the final run of the inning.
The RedHawks added their final run in the fourth inning on a RBI single by catcher John Crummy for a 6-1 lead. An inning later, the Cardinals cut into the deficit when junior designated hitter Grant Kay (Omaha, Neb.) crushed the first offering from lefty starter Seth Varner over the left field wall for his second home run of the season. Senior third baseman Alex Chittenden (Indianapolis, Ind.), who led off the inning with a single up the middle, and senior Cole Sturgeon (Owensboro, Ky.), who was hit by a pitch, also scored on the home run to narrow the Miami lead to 6-4.
That was as close as Louisville would get however as Miami worked out of jams in each of the final four innings of the game for the victory. The Cardinals put two on with two outs in the sixth before a strikeout ended that threat. They got a leadoff single in the seventh from Sturgeon, who advanced to second with a stolen base before being left there to end the inning. After back-to-back one-out walks in the eighth, the Cardinals left both runners stranded to end that frame. And again in the ninth, Louisville got a runner to third with one out before a strikeout and a flyout ended the game.
Overall, the Cardinals were out-hit 12-10 as the RedHawks finished with the highest total for a Louisville opponent this season. Kay led the Louisville offense going 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Sturgeon and Chittenden added two hits each.
On the mound, Filomeno dropped his first game of the season and fell to 1-1 overall after allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks in just 1.1 innings pitched. Sparger allowed two earned runs and four total runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of relief, while junior lefty Kyle McGrath (Louisville, Ky.) worked 2.1 innings of shutout relief with four strikeouts. Sturgeon closed the game for the Cardinals with four strikeouts in a career-best three innings of shutout relief. Louisville also finished with a season-high four double-plays, their highest total in a single game since the 2010 season.
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