University of Louisville
Seton Hall *
Cards Sink Pirates 13-1 Friday
April 21, 2007 | Baseball
April 20, 2007
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Logan Johnson and Chris Dominguez both went 4 for 5 at the plate as the University of Louisville drubbed Seton Hall 13-1 Friday night at Caroll Field in the first night game in the history of Pirate baseball. Cardinal starter Zack Pitts improved to 7-1, allowing a run in eight strong innings of work.
"Our veterans showed a lot of composure tonight and finally put it together in the sixth to take the lead," noted Head Coach Dan McDonnell.
"Dominguez has really been hot of late and Logan and Isaiah(Howes) just continue to give us great at bats. Its two games in a row that we have scored double digit runs without a huge contribution from Boomer(Whiting)."
A pitcher's duel surfaced early in the game.
Isaiah Howes tripled to right with two out in the top of the fourth, but the Cards (26-11, 9-4 BIG EAST) were unable to push across the run.
Seton Hall's Matt Smedberg singled to open the fourth after Pitts retired the first nine batters of the ballgame in order. Smedberg later scored on a double to left by John Walsh, putting the Pirates (18-17, 5-8 BIG EAST) up 1-0.
U of L threatened again, putting runners at the corners with one out on a double by Dominguez and an infield single by Derrick Alfonso in the fifth, but Pirate starter Keith Cantwell struck out Chris Cates and Boomer Whiting to end the threat.
Louisville captured the lead for good in the top of the sixth. Johnson singled to open the frame, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left by Howes. Dominguez then hammered a double off the wall in left near the 405' mark to plate Howes and put the Cards up 2-1.
The Cards put a five-spot on the board in the seventh. Alfonso hit a leadoff single, and moved to second on Cates' 12th sac bunt of the season and 47th of his career, tying him for 5th in NCAA history.
Whiting tripled in Alfonso, lining an 0-2 pitch to the gap in left-center. Johnson then singled up the middle past a drawn-in infield to score Whiting. Daniel Burton reached on a bunt single and after Howes grounded out, Jorge Castillo singled two more home and Dominguez singed a triple to right-center to cap the inning.
The Cards batted around for the second time in the ballgame, notching six in the ninth.
Johnson was hit by a pitch for the 61st time of his career, tying him for eighth on the NCAA career list, leading off the frame. Burton put two runners in scoring position when he reached on a two-base error by Pirate right fielder Greg Miller.
Howes smoked his second triple of the evening, this one to right-center on a 1-1 pitch, to score two. A sac fly by Justin McClanahan scored Howes.
Dominguez, pinch-hitter Alec Lowrey and Alfonso hit consecutive singles to score a run. Whiting walked to load the bases and Johnson belted his 18th double of the season, and 57th of his career, putting him alone in second all-time in Cardinal history and driving in the final two runs of the game.
Pitts spread out five hits and a walk over eight innings, striking out four. Outside of the run, only one other runner reached second base and he tossed four 1-2-3 innings. Gavin Logsdon allowed a hit and struck out one, rolling up a game ending 6-4-3 double play.
SHU starter Keith Cantwell (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out seven in six plus innings. Jesse Gwaltney was touched for four runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning, while Luis Fernandez worked the final 2.1 innings, allowing six runs, three of which were earned on five hits and a walk, striking out one.
With his pair of triples, Howes now has 15 career three-baggers, putting him in sole possession of fourth place in Cardinal history. It was Dominguez's first career four-hit game, and he is now 7 for his last 10, belting a pair of doubles and a triple on the evening. Johnson drove in three and scored three, while Howes and Alfonso each contributed three hits.
The same two teams will meet for game two Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET. U of L's Justin Marks (3-1, 2.70 ERA), is slated to match up against Seton Hall's Corey Young (2-3, 5.05 ERA).
