May 20, 2009
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Notre Dame’s BIG EAST tournament baseball game with Louisville was suspended in the top of the fourth inning due to torrential rains Wednesday night. The Irish and Cardinals will resume the game Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m.
The Cardinals jumped on freshman Ryan Richter in the top of the first inning. The southpaw had Josh Richmond down 0-2 to open the game, but issued a walk. Adam Duvall followed with a double and Andrew Clark made it 3-0 with a three-run home run. Richter then had Chris Dominguez down 0-2 before again issuing a walk. Phil Wunderlich then singled down the line and was dead at second base, but junior Brayden Ashdown’s throw was bobbled by senior Jeremy Barnes allowing Wunderlich to slide in safely and also allowed Dominguez to scamper home. After Ryan Wright flied out, sophomore Mick Doyle booted Alec Lowery’s ground ball, which should have ended the inning, but Jeff Arnold stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run home run to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead. That would end the day for Richter.
Richter lasted just 0.1 innings in his third career start. The freshman surrendered seven runs, four of which were earned, on four hits. Richter also walked two.
Senior Sam Elam replaced Richter and retired the final two Cardinals of the first inning. The southpaw then sent down Louisville 1-2-3 in the second.
Louisville scored two more runs in the top of the third inning off Elam without benefit of a hit to grab a 9-0 advantage. Elam walked three, hit another batter and uncorked an errant pickoff attempt. The Cardinals also swiped three bases.
The Irish did get to Louisville starter Justin Marks in the bottom of the third. A.J. Pollock ripped a double just inside the third base bag and cruised home on Barnes’ 14th home run of the season to bring Notre Dame within seven runs, 9-2.