University of Louisville
Northern Iowa
Baseball Drops Series Opener To Panthers 9-2
February 23, 2001 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2001
Northern Iowa's Aaron McEachran drove in five runs to lead the Panthers to a 9-2 victory over Louisville in baseball action Friday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium. The first game of the three-game weekend series snaps a four game winning streak for U of L(5-7).
The Panthers(2-3) opened the scoring in the third on a three-run home run to right by McEachran, and they added to the lead in the fourth. Catcher Willie Durazo singled up the middle to open the frame, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on consecutive wild pitches by Cardinal pitcher Mike Tisdale to make it 4-0.
Tisdale(1-2) picked up the loss, giving up seven runs on eight hits, while striking out two. Panthers hurler Nick Ungs(1-0) got the win, tossing six innings and giving up one unearned run on six hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.
UNI pushed five runs across in the fifth. The first seven batters reached base, ten came to the plate, and the inning was highlighted by a two-run ground rule double by McEachran.
Louisville pushed across a single run in the sixth when first baseman Morgan Bojorquez' single scored DH Carlos De la Osa to make it 9-1, and freshman rightfielder Mark Jurich blasted his second home run of the year to the bleachers in right center in the ninth to close the scoring.
Panther middle infielders Travis Welsch and Marty Sutherland each had two hits. Mike Hook, Bill Gatti Jr. and Jurich had two base hits apiece for the Cardinals. Gatti was 2 for 3 with a double, triple and a walk.
Louisville freshman pitcher Chris Keaton entered the game in the fifth with the bases loaded and nobody out, and proceeded to pitch five strong innings, giving up just a single to Sutherland in the ninth, while striking out five.
The same two teams will meet Saturday at Cardinal Stadium at 1:00. The Cards will send senior Denny Williams(1-2, 4.58) to the hill to face UNI's Victor Saldana(0-1, 16.62).
