Cardinals Fall to Estrellas Orientales
October 04, 2015 | Baseball
Kidston strikes out four in three shutout innings; Louisville concludes slate Monday at 11 a.m., ET against Leones del Escogido
SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic - A ninth inning rally came up short as the University of Louisville baseball team dropped a 5-3 decision to Estrellas Orientales of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League on Sunday evening at Estadio Tetelo Vargas.
Facing a five-run deficit entering the final inning, the Cardinals scored three runs and later loaded the bases with two outs before the host club closed out the game with a strikeout. It was the first loss of the five-day Dominican Republic trip for Louisville, which earned two split squad wins on Saturday.
The game proved useful for not only the Cardinals, who were matched against highly talented professional players, but also for the coaching staff and management for Estrellas, which used the game to gauge the progress of its club ahead of its season-opener on Oct. 15. Founded in 1910, the Estrellas Orientales baseball franchise won Dominican league titles in 1954 and 1968.
Among the highlights for Louisville on Sunday night was the performance of senior righthander Anthony Kidston, who had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit in three shutout innings of relief. He followed senior righty starter Kyle Funkhouser, who struck out six while surrendering two runs on four hits in four innings.
Junior catcher Will Smith led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while freshman outfielder Josh Stowers and freshman infielder Devin Mann came off the bench to drive in runs in the ninth inning. After putting runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, Louisville plated its first run when sophomore Michael Bollmer scored from second on a fielding error. Mann followed with a groundball to score redshirt freshman Drew Ellis, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
Stowers then drove in sophomore catcher Colby Fitch with a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-3. The inning continued with a two-out error by Estrellas allowing freshman Chris Botsoe to reach base before junior Corey Ray loaded the bases with an infield single. After a pitching change, freshman Daniel Little went down on strikes to end the game.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
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GIRLS FROM PASITOS DE JÉSUS CHEER ON THE CARDINALS
The Louisville players had a very special group of fans supporting them on Sunday evening at Estadio Tetelo Vargas as several of the girls from Pasitos de Jésus were attendance for the game. During their Saturday afternoon visit to Pasitos de Jésus, which provides assistance to abused and abandoned youth girls, the Cardinals players asked the staff from SCORE International if the girls could attend Sunday evening's game at the 8,000-seat ballpark in San Pedro de Macorís. Not only did a large group of the girls attend the game, they were a highly energetic group singing songs and leading the other fans in the C-A-R-D-S cheers.
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LOUISVILLE PLAYERS MEET MLB'S DIRECTOR OF DOMINICAN OPERATIONS
Prior to Sunday's game, the Cardinals met with Rafael Perez, Director of Dominican Operations for Major League Baseball since 2011 and an integral part of Louisville's games this week against Estrellas Orientales and Leones del Escogido. He welcomed the Louisville players and coaches to the Dominican Republic while also providing background information on the baseball culture in the country. Previously, Perez served as Director of International Operations for the New York Mets and was Senior Manager of Latin American Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball.
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CARDINALS CLOSE DOMINICAN GAME SCHEDULE MONDAY
Louisville will play its fourth and final game in the Dominican Republic on Monday at 11 a.m., ET against Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League at the Arizona Diamondbacks Complex-Baseball City in Boca Chica. The Leones del Escogido baseball franchise was founded in 1921 and is a 12-time league champion while also winning four Caribbean Series championships.
The trip to the Dominican Republic, which coincides with the university's mid-term break, will conclude on Tuesday with the team's return home. The Cardinals have partnered with SCORE International for their housing, transportation and community service work while on the ground in the Dominican Republic. SCORE International is a short term mission organization with extensive experience providing all-inclusive trips.
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LOUISVILLE BASEBALL 2015 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GAME SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Results: Louisville 18, Liga del Oesta 0 | Louisville 22, International Prospect League 3 (split squads)
Date/Location: Saturday | The Highlands Complex | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
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Result: Estrellas Orientales 5, Louisville 3
Date/Location: Sunday | Estadio Tetelo Vargas | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
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Matchup: Louisville vs. Leones del Escogido
Date/Time: Monday | 11 a.m., ET
Venue: Arizona Diamondback Complex-Baseball City
City: Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
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Facing a five-run deficit entering the final inning, the Cardinals scored three runs and later loaded the bases with two outs before the host club closed out the game with a strikeout. It was the first loss of the five-day Dominican Republic trip for Louisville, which earned two split squad wins on Saturday.
The game proved useful for not only the Cardinals, who were matched against highly talented professional players, but also for the coaching staff and management for Estrellas, which used the game to gauge the progress of its club ahead of its season-opener on Oct. 15. Founded in 1910, the Estrellas Orientales baseball franchise won Dominican league titles in 1954 and 1968.
Among the highlights for Louisville on Sunday night was the performance of senior righthander Anthony Kidston, who had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit in three shutout innings of relief. He followed senior righty starter Kyle Funkhouser, who struck out six while surrendering two runs on four hits in four innings.
Junior catcher Will Smith led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while freshman outfielder Josh Stowers and freshman infielder Devin Mann came off the bench to drive in runs in the ninth inning. After putting runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, Louisville plated its first run when sophomore Michael Bollmer scored from second on a fielding error. Mann followed with a groundball to score redshirt freshman Drew Ellis, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
Stowers then drove in sophomore catcher Colby Fitch with a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-3. The inning continued with a two-out error by Estrellas allowing freshman Chris Botsoe to reach base before junior Corey Ray loaded the bases with an infield single. After a pitching change, freshman Daniel Little went down on strikes to end the game.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
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GIRLS FROM PASITOS DE JÉSUS CHEER ON THE CARDINALS
The Louisville players had a very special group of fans supporting them on Sunday evening at Estadio Tetelo Vargas as several of the girls from Pasitos de Jésus were attendance for the game. During their Saturday afternoon visit to Pasitos de Jésus, which provides assistance to abused and abandoned youth girls, the Cardinals players asked the staff from SCORE International if the girls could attend Sunday evening's game at the 8,000-seat ballpark in San Pedro de Macorís. Not only did a large group of the girls attend the game, they were a highly energetic group singing songs and leading the other fans in the C-A-R-D-S cheers.
Â
LOUISVILLE PLAYERS MEET MLB'S DIRECTOR OF DOMINICAN OPERATIONS
Prior to Sunday's game, the Cardinals met with Rafael Perez, Director of Dominican Operations for Major League Baseball since 2011 and an integral part of Louisville's games this week against Estrellas Orientales and Leones del Escogido. He welcomed the Louisville players and coaches to the Dominican Republic while also providing background information on the baseball culture in the country. Previously, Perez served as Director of International Operations for the New York Mets and was Senior Manager of Latin American Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball.
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CARDINALS CLOSE DOMINICAN GAME SCHEDULE MONDAY
Louisville will play its fourth and final game in the Dominican Republic on Monday at 11 a.m., ET against Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League at the Arizona Diamondbacks Complex-Baseball City in Boca Chica. The Leones del Escogido baseball franchise was founded in 1921 and is a 12-time league champion while also winning four Caribbean Series championships.
The trip to the Dominican Republic, which coincides with the university's mid-term break, will conclude on Tuesday with the team's return home. The Cardinals have partnered with SCORE International for their housing, transportation and community service work while on the ground in the Dominican Republic. SCORE International is a short term mission organization with extensive experience providing all-inclusive trips.
Â
LOUISVILLE BASEBALL 2015 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GAME SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Results: Louisville 18, Liga del Oesta 0 | Louisville 22, International Prospect League 3 (split squads)
Date/Location: Saturday | The Highlands Complex | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
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Result: Estrellas Orientales 5, Louisville 3
Date/Location: Sunday | Estadio Tetelo Vargas | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
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Matchup: Louisville vs. Leones del Escogido
Date/Time: Monday | 11 a.m., ET
Venue: Arizona Diamondback Complex-Baseball City
City: Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
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Players Mentioned
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