University of Louisville
Memphis
Cards Edged 10-9 By Memphis In Slugfest
April 08, 2001 | Baseball
April 8, 2001
Despite out-homering Memphis 5-4, the Tigers defeated Louisville 10-9 to complete the weekend sweep. The teams combined for 18 homers in the three-game set.
The Tigers(18-12, 6-6) put two on the board in the first to take an early lead. Centerfielder Paul Reuer lead off with a double, was moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a groundout by second baseman Daniel Uggla. Catcher Barret Smith followed with his seventh home run of the season to make it 2-0 Memphis.
The Cardinals answered with a single tally in the second on first baseman Mike Budak's fourth home run of the season. Budak smacked the first pitch of the inning over the fence in center to cut the Tiger lead in half.
Louisville knotted things at 2-2 when shortstop Adam Haley and centerfielder Mike Hook hit back-to-back one out singles, putting runners at the corners, and centerfielder Dave Williams Jr. scored Haley on a sacrifice fly.
Memphis quickly regained the lead, again by way of the long ball. Uggla hit a two-run shot, his 12th, and two batters later first baseman Jay Fik went yard to put the score at 5-2 Memphis.
Louisville took the lead by doing some yardwork of their own in the top of the fifth. Designated hitter Brennan Hall lead the frame off with a double to the gap in right center, and second baseman Matt Jarboe followed with his second career home run to make it 5-4. Haley followed with his second single of the day, was moved to second on a sac bunt by Hook and scored when right fielder Bill Gatti Jr. raked his second bomb of the season to center, putting U of L up 6-5.
Third baseman Scott Gerlach continued the four-bagger parade with a solo shot to left, his first, to increase the Cardinal lead to 7-5 in the sixth.
Memphis right fielder Joshua Payne tied things at 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out, two-run double to left center, and Smith hit his second home run of the game with a three-run shot to left in the bottom of the seventh, to get the lead back for UM 10-7.
U of L edged closer in the seventh when Hall hit his first career home run to center with a man on to slice the Memphis advantage to 10-9, but the Cards couldn't produce any more runs.
Cardinal starter Josh Ring (4-3) was tagged for 10 runs on 10 hits and an intentional walk in 6.2 innings in the slugfest, while striking out four in the losing effort. UM starting pitcher Jason Wiedmeyer threw five innings and gave up six runs on seven hits and no walks, striking out seven.
Memphis reliever Layne Dawson(2-1) was the winner despite giving up two runs on three hits in his two innings of work. Payne threw the final inning to pick up the save, his second.
Cardinal reliever Carlos Fernandez was solid, keeping them in the game during his 1.2 innings of work, giving up just two hits and two walks-one intentional, to go with three K's.
In a game that featured the nine home runs, there were also four hit batters, and at the conclusion of the game, tempers flared and the two teams met at the mound in a scuffle. The conference office will rule as to whether there will be any action taken.
Louisville(20-18, 5-7) will face Kentucky in Lexington Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
