Baseball purists expecting a classic pitchers’ duel were in a for big letdown. While U of L’s Justin Marks (11-2) and IU’s Eric Arnett (12-2) struggled to find the strike zone at times, both completed seven innings in a crucial game.
A record crowd of 4,605 turned out to see two of college baseball’s winningest pitchers in the University of Louisville’s 8-2 win over Indiana in the first round of the NCAA’s Louisville Region at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Marks allowed only four hits while walking two batters and notching eight strikeouts. Arnett, who is among the finalists for college baseball pitcher of the year, gave up five hits, struck out six batters and walked four. Arnett, however, probably eliminated himself from national honors while hitting three batters and committing a costly error.
Extra base hits were few and far between for two potent offenses. No home runs from these hot hitting teams and only two doubles, those coming from the Cards — one by Chris Dominguez, the other by Josh Richmond.
Phil Wunderlich delivered still another clinching hit, a single to center in the eighth driving in two runs to stifle any Hoosier illusions of a comeback.
Or, it would have been a totally different game if they had worn leiderhosen and snokel masks and flippers. It was what it was. Cards Win. If “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts we’d all have full bellies…Time to head to the “Pat”.
Yeah, and it would have been a totally different ballgame if U of L’s hitters had come to hit. Or if Justin Marks wasn’t having control problems.
That would have been a totally different game had the IU defense come to play!
It’s the kind of game you just wish would keep on going. Down early, almost 5,000 out at Patterson tonight getting down and loud. You knew that deficit wouldn’t last.
3-2. That was enough, although a miscue by IU’s right fielder on a potential 3rd out made it 5-2. Then 8-2. Patterson rocking. Paul war whooping on the way home over the phone that he wanted a double header right here, right now to get the Hoosiers out of our hair for good.
Cardinal baseball has the fans, the fanatics…but most importantly…the arms and bats to just make this whole NCAA title thing seem very plausible.
Mingo, Phil and Clark. Not the murderers row of Yankee fame, or Rose, Bench and Perez…but pretty damn effective for college baseball.
Put on the gloves tomorrow, guys. Omaha is at the end of the tunnel.