Louisville eliminates Mississippi State 12-4

The Cardinals hit four
home runs, two by Chris Dominguez.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Chris Dominguez hit two of Louisville’s four home runs, Justin Marks allowed two singles before taking a hard shot to his left leg in the sixth inning, and the Cardinals eliminated Mississippi State from the College World Series with a 12-4 victory Sunday.

Louisville’s powerful offense kept the Cardinals (47-23) alive in their first CWS appearance.

Mississippi State (38-22) went two games and out or the first time in seven CWS appearances since the 1971 Bulldogs went winless here.

Jumped out to 8-0 lead

The Cards broke out to an 8-0 lead, and after Mississippi State scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, Louisville came back with three in the seventh, highlighted by Dominguez’s two-run shot to left.

Conditions were right for another big offensive performance for the Cardinals, who have seven home runs, 33 hits and 22 runs in their first two CWS games.

With the wind blowing out at 19 to 25 mph, Logan Johnson hit his third homer in five CWS at-bats after Boomer Whiting singled leading off the game against Chad Crosswhite (8-5).

Dominguez, who homered against Rice, hit his first of the game to make it 3-0 in the second. Daniel Burton’s three-run shot in the fourth gave Louisville its eight-run lead.

It was the fifth time in the NCAA tournament the Cardinals hit at least three home runs, running their total to 20 in 10 games. The four homers Sunday were their most since they hit eight against Marshall on April 1.

Marks shaken up

Marks (9-2), who held Oklahoma State to one run on one hit in 61⁄3 innings in super regionals, cruised through the first five innings. But in the sixth, Mitch Moreland’s sharp comebacker hit him on his left knee. The shot left him writhing on the mound, and he later was diagnosed with a bruise.

Marks composed himself, but he walked Brian LaNinfa on four pitches, and Brandon Turner followed with a three-run homer that barely cleared the wall in left center.

Kyle Hollander relieved and gave up back-to-back singles before Jet Butler hit into an inning-ending double play.

Crosswhite’s 21⁄3 innings marked the shortest of his 13 career starts. He was the first of five Bulldog pitchers, who combined to give up 18 hits.

Louisville, which came into the national tournament batting .304 and averaging 6.7 runs, is hitting .370 and averaging 9.9 runs the last 10 games.