University of Louisville
Kentucky
Cards Can't Catch Cats
April 10, 2001 | Baseball
April 10, 2001
In the Battle of the Bluegrass nines, Kentucky beat Louisville 8-3 on Tuesday evening in Lexington. The teams will meet for the rematch on April 17th at Slugger Field in Louisville at 6:00 p.m.
A sacrifice fly by Cardinal first baseman Mike Budak was the first run of the game, giving U of L a 1-0 lead. Centerfielder Mike Hook singled to lead off, leftfielder Dave Williams Jr. walked, and both were moved ahead a base by third baseman Scott Gerlach's sacrifice, before the fly ball to left by Budak.
Kentucky(15-20) matched the single mark in the first on a RBI double by first baseman Gordon Tyler. On the play, UK leftfielder Caleb Brock who had waked, was thrown out at the plate when Hook fired to shortstop Adam Haley, who pegged Brock at the dish to end the inning.
The Wildcats added another run in the second on an RBI single by second baseman Brad Pickerel to give them their first lead at 2-1, and they added to the total with a solo home run by shortstop Vince Harrison leading off the third to make it 3-1.
Kentucky continued to pad the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-run single by centerfielder Beau Moore, giving them a 5-1 advantage, and knocking Louisville starter Mike Tisdale out of the game. Tisdale(6-4) surrendered five runs-four earned on six hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts, in 3.1 innings, his shortest start of the season while taking the loss.
The Cards edged closer with a pair of runs in the sixth to make it 5-3 Kentucky. Budak singled home Williams, who reached on a bunt single to lead off, and Gerlach scored on a groundout by catcher Fernando Isa.
UK rightfielder Seth Morris hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth to get one of the runs back, 6-3.
There were two brief delays in the bottom of the sixth inning totalling 17 minutes due to lightning in the area. Ironically, the 2000-2001 UK/U of L football game in September was also marked by a lightning delay.
Louisville loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, but were unable to cash in. The Cards stranded nine runners in the contest.
UK put the final two runs of the game in the eighth to make it 8-3.
Wildcat starter Bryan Felkel(2-0) tossed five frames, giving up three runs-two of which were earned on five hits and three walks, he struck out three in the win. Reliever Mark Michael shut down the Cards with four scoreless innings to pick up his first save.
U of L's Chase Cruse pitched the final 4.2 innings for the Cards and gave up three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Haley, Budak and rightfielder Kevin Fishback each had two hits for the Cards, while Williams had three base hits.
Louisville(20-19) will travel to Charlotte for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday.
