Late Rally Lifts Vrable’s Vikings to Pizza Bowl Clincher
October 16, 2016 | Baseball
Four-run eighth inning the difference as Vikings move to 3-0 in Pizza Bowl; McAvene twirls six no-hit innings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Powered by a four-run eighth inning, Vrable's Vikings clinched the 11th annual Pizza Bowl with Sunday afternoon's 5-4 victory over Strader's Raiders in Game 3 of the series at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Facing a 3-1 deficit, the Vikings turned the game in their favor plating a trio of unearned runs on just one hit in the decisive eighth inning. Senior outfielder Logan Taylor had a RBI single and scored a run in the pivotal inning, senior outfielder Colin Lyman added a RBI grounder and freshman outfielder Danny Oriente chipped in with a RBI sacrifice fly. Oriente added a run-scoring single an inning earlier in the seventh to plate the first run of the game for the Vikings.
On the mound, freshman righthander Michael McAvene finished with a no-decision despite registering six strikeouts and issuing just one walk in six no-hit innings in the starting role for the Raiders. Freshman lefthander Nick Bennett also performed well surrendering two runs on just two hits with four strikeouts in five innings for the Vikings.
The Raiders were paced offensively by freshman outfielder Ethan Stringer, who connected for a solo home run, while sophomore catcher Zeke Pinkham singled, walked twice and scored once. Junior outfielder Ryan Summers singled and drove in a run and freshman infielder Justin Lavey added a single and one RBI.
The Pizza Bowl will continue with Game 4 on Monday at 3 p.m., ET. Batting practice will begin at 1:45 p.m., and admission is free.
PIZZA BOWL ROSTERS
The two teams in this year's Pizza Bowl series are guided by assistant coach Adam Vrable and former Louisville pitcher Robert Strader, a student assistant this fall and a pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. The roster for Strader's Raiders includes Michael Bollmer, Sam Bordner, Noah Burkholder, Chandler Dale, Drew Ellis, Daniel Fischer, Shane Hummel, Justin Lavey, Daniel Little, Michael McAvene, Matt McCarty, Brendan McKay, J.D. Mundt, Zeke Pinkham, Pat Rumoro, Phillip Sanderson, Josh Stowers, Ethan Stringer, Ryan Summers, Riley Thompson and Adam Wolf. The Vrable's Vikings roster features Nick Bennett, Austin Clemons, Austin Dickey, Adam Elliott, Colby Fitch, Tyler Fitzgerald, Lincoln Henzman, Bryan Hoeing, Colin Lyman, Devin Mann, Rabon Martin, Kade McClure, Danny Oriente, Shay Smiddy, Ryan Smith, Jake Sparger, Hunter Sullivan, Logan Taylor, Mac Welsh and Logan Wyatt.
ABOUT THE PIZZA BOWL
Upon his hiring as Louisville head coach in the summer of 2006, Dan McDonnell immediately created an atmosphere of competition throughout the University of Louisville baseball program. Whether it's through conditioning in the Omaha Challenge, or in preseason scrimmages, McDonnell believes in creating competitive situations to give his players numerous opportunities to prepare for what they will see during conference and postseason games.
One of the most effective ways McDonnell and his coaching staff can provide the Louisville players with those competitive, game-like situations is through the annual Pizza Bowl series. Following approximately six weeks of fall practice sessions, the Cardinals take to the field for what started as a one-game scrimmage in the fall of 2006 and has become an ultra-competitive three-game or five-game intra-squad series. The winning team is rewarded by being served as much pizza as it would like by the losing squad, which in turn shares what is left. The Pizza Bowl series has become an exciting and highly anticipated ending to the fall for Louisville coaches, players and fans.
FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
