June 2, 2007
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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers used back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to spark a comeback against the Louisville Cardinals in game four of the 2007 NCAA Columbia Regional. Tiger designated hitter Jacob Priday went deep twice to propel the Tigers to a 7-5 victory. A record 3,630 fans saw the Tigers advance to Sunday night's championship game.
Coming off of its first-ever regional victory, Louisville sent freshman Justin Marks to the mound to start the game. The Cardinal lefty gave up a long drive to Priday in the top of the first, but centerfielder Boomer Whiting made a leaping grab at the wall to rob Priday of an extra-base hit.
Tiger lefty Rick Zagone started his night by retiring the first three Cardinal batters, before allowing an infield single to Isaiah Howes in the bottom of the second inning. After a routine fly to right field, Howes tried to tag up and advance to second but was thrown out by Mizzou's Ryan Lollis.
The Cardinals would rally after the double play, as third baseman Chris Dominguez hit a triple off the centerfield wall. Pete Rodriguez singled up the middle to bring Dominguez home and start the scoring for the Cardinals. The hit was the first for Rodriguez in regional play, as he went 0-for-6 in game one against Miami.
The offense would continue into the third inning for Louisville, as shortstop Chris Cates started the inning with a leadoff single. Senior Daniel Burton kept his hot bat going as he singled to bring Cates home. The RBI was the fifth of the regional for Burton. The Cardinals would add one more run in the third to take a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the fourth registering a single, a hit batter and a walk, loading the bases, but senior Aaron Senne hit into an inning-ending double play, ending the scoring opportunity.
Marks pitched well until Lollis opened the sixth inning with a double that bounced past Burton at first base, giving the Tigers a chance to score. They cashed in on that opportunity when Priday and Trevor Coleman hit back-to-back blasts over the left field wall, tying the game at three. Priday's homer was his first of the regional and eleventh of the season.
The back-to-back jacks forced Marks to end his day, bringing in Andrew Salgueiro to close out the inning. The Tigers continued to load the bases with two walks and a hit batter, ending Salguiero's day. Senior Skylar Meade came in to try and minimize the damage and did just that, allowing only one run on a fielder's choice hit by Missouri short stop Gary Arndt. The play gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead.
Louisville would come back quickly in the bottom of the sixth inning, after a single and a steal by Howes led to an RBI single by DH Jorge Castillo, bringing Zagone's day to an end. Freshman Kyle Gibson came in to get the final three outs of the inning, striking out Cates to end the threat.
Priday would come through again for the Tigers, launching a solo blast to put the Tigers up 5-4, a lead that they would not give up. The homerun traveled over the elevated center field wall, measuring the shot well over 400 feet. The Tigers added two more runs in the ninth to provide some insurance. Tiger Skipper Tim Jamieson brought in closer Scooter Hicks to close out the ninth inning. The Cardinals would add one more run, but it was not enough.
Day three of the Columbia Regional will begin at 1:00 p.m. (CST) Sunday, with Game Five featuring a rematch of Game One between Miami and Louisville, with the Tigers playing the winner of that game at 6:30 p.m.