G.J. McCarthy photo

MU Coach Tim Jamieson (9) and catcher Trevor Coleman complain about Dominguez’s behavior after he hit a two-run home run in the eighth.

Louisville’s Chris Dominguez became a hero and a villain in the blink of an eye.

When the big third baseman’s eighth-inning blast went over the left-field wall, Dominguez saved the Cardinals’ season. When he didn’t immediately run the bases, he drew the ire of a packed Taylor Stadium.

G.J. McCarthy photos

Above, Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez shouts into the Missouri dugout while teammate Logan Johnson tries to calm him down in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Cardinals’ 4-3 victory last night on Simmons Field. Below, Missouri shortstop Gary Arndt (16) leaps out of the way of left fielder Aaron Senne after Senne made a sliding catch in the seventh inning.

And the aftermath turned up the heat for today’s Columbia Regional championship game on Simmons Field.

Louisville defeated Missouri 4-3 last night to force a final game. The teams will meet at 1 p.m. today on Simmons Field with the winner advancing to the super regional.

With the game tied in the eighth, Dominguez hammered a two-run shot up the left-field line. The third baseman watched the flight of the ball and turned to yell at Missouri players. Pinch-runner Chris Pelaez, who was on first base, had nearly crossed the plate before Dominguez started his slow trot.

"When I hit it, I didn’t know if it was fair or foul, that was basically why I was there for a long time," Dominguez said. ... "After that, the catcher," Trevor Coleman, "had said some things. In the emotion of the game, you can say something that you regret. …

"He thought I was hot-dogging, yes. Yes, he did. I could see how he would, of course. I was standing there a long time."

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Dominguez was looking into the Missouri dugout and yelling the entire way around the bases. He backpedaled between first and second base while shouting at MU first baseman John McKee.

He did a little stutter step before bunny-hopping onto home plate, getting in a few last words to Coleman. Missouri Coach Tim Jamieson bolted out of the dugout to voice his opinion with the umpires.

Emotions boiled over when Louisville took the field for the bottom of the eighth. As he was booed by the Taylor Stadium crowd, Dominguez gestured in the direction of the MU dugout.

Plate umpire Bill Speck walked out toward third base to scold Dominguez. The third baseman claims the umpire asked him just to relax. Second baseman Logan Johnson grabbed Dominguez’s arm and pulled him away from Speck.

The umpiring crew refused to comment on the incident because it didn’t concern a rule interpretation.

Jamieson had an animated discussion with Louisville Coach Dan McDonnell at home plate after the game. While Jamieson wouldn’t comment on it, McDonnell said he apologized for the way the incident unfolded.

"To steal a line from Pat Riley: Competition brings out the very best and the very worst in individuals. This was a big game, that was a huge moment," McDonnell said. "I was upset at Chris for showing too much emotion. I’m not going to comment on their catcher, their players … but I wasn’t happy, no matter what their player said."

Priday homered in the bottom of the ninth to get the Tigers within one. He rounded the bases without incident. He didn’t look at Dominguez as he ran past third.

"You play the game with class. I think we’ve shown that as long as I can remember," Jamieson said. "That’s the way you’re supposed to play. I think it was tremendous restraint to respond in that fashion."

Jamieson also tried to put the focus onto today’s game and what’s still at stake for the Tigers. Missouri is seeking a berth in a super regional for the second consecutive year, and, with Arkansas’ elimination last night, the Tigers would be the likely host against regional winner Oklahoma State in the next round. That would make the Tigers a favorite to advance to the College World Series.

Jamieson said ace Aaron Crow could be available to start today’s game, but after throwing 119 pitches Friday night, the right-hander wouldn’t go more than a few innings. McDonnell said he was undecided on who would pitch.

After Priday’s third home run of the tournament, Coleman drew a walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Kurt Calvert. McKee struck out, and Aaron Senne worked the count to 2-1 count against reliever Kyle Hollander. Calvert stole second, opening first base, and the Cardinals elected to intentionally walk Senne, who had doubled and homered earlier in the game. But Kyle Mach struck out on a breaking ball and Gary Arndt flew out to center to end the game.

Missouri missed on plenty of chances earlier in the game. The Tigers had the bases loaded with none out in the fourth and only got one run on McKee’s double-play groundout. The Tigers had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh and came up empty.

Louisville center fielder Boomer Whiting robbed the Tigers several times. In the first, Whiting ran down two balls that would have gone for extra bases at the fence. In the fourth inning, he made a leaping grab of Senne’s drive at the top of the fence.

Missouri had its share of defensive gems as well, including Evan Frey’s diving catch to end the second and Senne’s sliding grab while avoiding shortstop Arndt in the seventh. But a miscue in the sixth really hurt. With Dominguez on first, Pete Rodriguez hit a grounder to short that Arndt couldn’t handle cleanly enough for a double play. His throw beat Rodriguez to first, and Dominguez aggressively ran toward third. McKee’s throw was high and went out of play to allow Dominguez to score, tying the game at 2.

The Cardinals advanced to last night’s game by defeating Miami 8-7 in an elimination game yesterday afternoon.

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