MU fails in first bid to oust Louisville

~ The Tigers face elimination today after Sunday's 4-3 loss.

By R.B. FALLSTROM

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Chris Dominguez' bat kept underdog Louisville alive in the NCAA tournament. His mouth was a much more popular subject.

Dominguez hit a pair of two-run home runs in two victories, and angered host Missouri when he lingered at the plate to admire his go-ahead shot in a 4-3 victory Sunday night that forced a deciding game today. He and catcher Trevor Coleman were engaged in a shouting match before and after Dominguez rounded the bases.

"When I hit it I even didn't know if it was fair or foul, so I was basically there for a long time," Dominguez said. "The catcher said some things, and in the emotion of the game you kind of say some things that you regret.

"He thought I was hot-dogging it, yes he did."

Kyle Hollander escaped jams in the seventh and ninth for the third-seeded Cardinals (43-21), who beat Miami for the second time earlier Sunday. Louisville is making its second NCAA appearance.

Dominguez' alert baserunning also allowed Louisville (43-21) to tie it at 2-2 in the sixth without a hit.

"There was a lot to do, a lot to accomplish, and we just tried to take it one inning at a time," Louisville coach Dan McDonnell said. "We're happy to be alive."

Dominguez was booed the rest of the game by a sellout crowd, players did not shake hands after the game, and Missouri coach Tim Jamieson brushed off McDonnell's attempt at an apology. McDonnell expects a carryover.

"I'm sure it will," McDonnell said. "This is a big game and that was a heated moment. I was upset at Chris for showing too much emotion. Chris is a super talent and he'll learn from this."

Jacob Priday, a Sikeston High School graduate, hit his third homer of the regional leading off the ninth against Hollander (4-1), who has appeared in three of Louisville's four games in the tournament. Missouri had runners on first and second with one out before Hollander struck out Kyle Mach on a checked swing and got Gary Arndt to pop out to end the game.

Aaron Senne homered in the second for Missouri (42-17), which lost for only the fifth time in 25 home games to disappoint a third straight sellout crowd. The teams meet again today with a Super Regional berth at stake.

Jamieson just wants his team, seeking its second straight berth in a Super Regional and perhaps host it, to take care of business.

"What you're playing for is much more important than what happened," Jamieson said. "The best way to make a statement is by beating them tomorrow."

Jamieson said he'll probably start ace Aaron Crow, who threw 119 pitches in a complete game victory over Kent State on Friday. Louisville used six pitchers on Sunday and McDonnell said he didn't know who would be his starter.

Missouri starter Ian Berger hit four batters, tying an NCAA regional record also tied by Miami's Scott Maine on Friday against Louisville. The fourth was Dominguez, whose early start prevented a double play on a groundout, and when he kept running first baseman John McKee's relay was wild and high, allowing the run to score.

Missouri had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth, also without a hit, parlaying two walks, a hit batter and McKee's double-play ball. Logan Johnson added an RBI single in the third for Louisville.

Two big defensive plays from Louisville center fielder Boomer Whiting helped frustrate Missouri early. Whiting caught Priday's drive to the warning track with a man on to end the first, then went to the wall to retire Senne and end the fourth.

Jorge Castillo added two hits and four RBIs in Louisville's victory over Miami, which got homers from Richard O'Brien, Mark Sobolewski and Dennis Raben.