University of Louisville
Southern Ill
Cardinal Nine Sweeps Salukis
March 11, 2001 | Baseball
March 11, 2001
Louisville topped Southern Illinois 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium to give the Cards a three game sweep in the weekend series. U of L(12-9) is now 11-3 at home, have won four straight, and six of its last seven.
The Salukis(6-9) opened the scoring in the second inning when right fielder Sal Frisella's sacrifice fly scored DH Ryan Schooley, who had lead off with a double to right center, making it 1-0 SIU.
Louisville answered in the third with three runs on three hits to give them a 3-1 lead. Left fielder Bill Gatti Jr. and third baseman Mike Budak had back-to-back RBI singles in the frame.
Southern Illinois crept closer in the fourth when third baseman Luke Nelson scored on a groundout by Frisella. Nelson lead off with a walk, and advanced to third on a balk and a wild pitch, before making it 3-2, and the Salukis tied things up at three in the sixth on an RBI single by Nelson.
Louisville took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on an RBI single by shortstop Adam Haley that scored first baseman Morgan Bojorquez. The Cards added two in the seventh when center fielder Mike Hook singled, stole second and scored on an error that put DH Carlos De la Osa on second. De la Osa then scored on a double to right center by Gatti giving Louisville a 6-3 lead.
Junior Derek Davis (1-0) picked up his first career win, tossing 2.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk. Freshman Chase Cruse tossed the ninth to get his first collegiate save. Carlos Fernandez and Chris Keaton each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
SIU reliever Ryan Aird(0-2) pitched three innings, giving up one run on four hits while picking up the loss. The Cards chased Saluki starter Jerel Deitering in the third.
Haley was 3 for 3 on the afternoon, driving in the game winner and is 7 for 11 in the four game streak. Gatti had two hits and drove in two runs. Hook was 7 for 13 in the last four, driving in five, drawing four walks and stealing eight bases in eight tries.
Louisville will wrap up the 16-game home stand Tuesday and Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. against Toledo at Cardinal Stadium, before opening conference play on the road in Cincinnati over the weekend.
