June 3, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - With a championship-game berth against host Missouri facing the teams in game five of the 2007 NCAA Columbia Regional, the Louisville Cardinals handed Miami head coach Jim Morris his first elimination in a regional since taking over at Miami in 1994, as the Cardinals topped the Hurricanes 8-7. Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez had a two run blast while designated hitter Jorge Castillo had a three-run double, helping the Cardinals out-slug Miami.
After using eight pitchers to get through the first two games, Louisville sent junior James Belanger to the hill. In nine starts this season, Belanger compiled a 1-4 record on the season but sat down the first seven Miami batters.
The Hurricanes sent freshman ace Eric Erickson to the mound to slow down the Cardinals bats. Erickson entered the game with a record of 10-3 and an ERA of 2.00, Miami's best by over a run. Erickson struggled in the bottom of the first loading the bases. Louisville's Castillo hit a double to the right field wall to score all three runners, moving his RBI total to six against Miami in the regional.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Belanger gave up his first hit to the Hurricanes. Catcher Richard O'Brien came up and blasted a solo shot into the bullpen in left field, putting the Canes. The homer was the second of the regional for O'Brien and his fourth RBI. Mark Sobelewski hit a two run shot of his own in the top of the fourth to tie the game 3-3. The homerun was the second of the regional, and gives him an 11-game hitting streak. Sobelewski has hit safely in 31 of his last 32 games.
Louisville regained the lead on a strange play. A botched suicide squeeze by batter Derrick Alfonso led to a rundown with Pete Rodriguez between third base and home plate. On the throw back to home, Erickson dropped the ball allowing Rodriguez to score, putting the Cardinals back on top 4-3.
Belanger's day came to and end after his 64th pitch, after allowing a double to O'Brien, making way for Louisville ace and Big East pitcher of the year Zack Pitts. Pitts made an error on a sacrifice bunt play, as he tried to get the runner out at third base. The ball flew into left field allowing O'Brien to score, tying the game at four. Pitts continued to struggle allowing a single to Roger Tomas, bringing home right fielder Dave DiNatale, extending the Canes lead to 5-4.
Louisville senior Isaiah Howes continued his clutch hitting to help the Cardinals once again tie the game. After a double by first baseman Daniel Burton, Howes hit a single through the left side of the infield to bring home Burton. Dominguez extended the lead with a two-run blast over the left field wall, ending Erickson's day. The 4.1 innings pitched was his shortest of the season. Erickson allowed six earned runs on nine hits and was tagged with the loss. Louisville would add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 8-5.
After giving up a run in the seventh, Louisville closer Trystan Magnuson entered the game in the top of the eighth and gave up a solo shot to Dennis Raben to tighten the gap to 8 -7. Magnuson made things interesting in the ninth by walking DiNatale, but got Roger Tomas to ground out to the third to eliminate Miami from postseason play, earning Magnuson the save.
Louisville will play No. 1 seed Missouri in Game 6 of the regional at 6:30 p.m. (CST). The Cardinals need to defeat the Tigers twice to take home the regional title, while Mizzou only needs one "W".