May 2, 2012
Game of the Day: Louisville Thoroughbreds at Austin Bulls
In a high-scoring battle to the very end, the visiting Louisville Thoroughbreds defeated the Austin Bulls 13-12 in the PASS Game of the Day.
Louisville’s Bill Yates was named the game MVP, going 4 for 6 with 2 home runs, 4 RBI, and 3 runs.
“[The] ball came right over the middle of the plate almost every at bat,” Yates said. “The trick to hitting a softball is to be patient and wait for it to come to you, and I mean right at you. For both of the home runs they were high and right over the plate like I like them and I just hit them with all I got.”
Louisville jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Yates followed a Robinson Lara single with a two-run homer. Later in the inning, Ron Lewis hit an RBI-single to score Brent Jackson.
Austin wasted no time in answering, with six runs in the bottom of the first. Preston Green led off with a single, followed by a Ryan Greer home run. Albert Goodyear, Michael Farley, and Lou O’Higgins all singled, before P.J. Stewart reached on an error to score Goodyear and tie the game at three. Doug Johnson followed with an RBI single. Doug Foreman then hit a sacrifice fly to score Stewart. The final run came on an RBI double by Hubert Leonard.
Austin extended its lead to 9-3 in the fourth. With two outs, Goodyear singled, followed by a two-run shot by Farley. After consecutive singles by O’Higgins and Stewart, Johnson hit an RBI single.
The Thoroughbreds answered in the fifth, cutting the Bulls lead to 9-7. Louisville started off the inning with three straight singles by Robinson Lara, Yates, and Jackson, before Tom Lucas hit a grand slam home run.
Louisville tied the game in the sixth with Lucas’ 2-RBI double, but Austin answered in the bottom of the inning on an RBI triple by Stewart to make it 10-9 Austin after six.
In the seventh, the Thoroughbreds took the lead for good. Ron Lewis led off with a double and later scored on an Austin error. Louie Miele then singled home Tyrone Gianakopulos. Two batters later, Yates went deep to make it 13-10 in favor of Louisville.
The Bulls made a run for the win in the bottom of the ninth. O’Higgins singled, and then Stewart tripled him in. Johnson then hit an RBI single to make it 13-12, but Johnson was out trying to stretch the play. After a walk and double, the Bulls had the winning run at second base with only one out. However, Preston Green and Ryan Greer grounded out to end the game.
Outstanding Players of the Game:
Bill Yates, Louisville, 4-6, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
Tom Lucas, Louisville, 3-5, 2 2B, GS, 5 RBI, R
Brent Jackson, Louisville, 2-6, RBI, 3 R
Lou O’Higgins, Austin, 5-5, 2B, 3 R
P.J. Stewart, Austin, 3-5, 2 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Michael Farley, Austin, 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R