University of Louisville
Tulane
Cardinal Nine Stuns Sixth-Ranked Tulane
May 12, 2001 | Baseball
May 12, 2001
Louisville shocked sixth-ranked Tulane 7-5 on Saturday, snapping the nation's longest winning streak at fifteen games. Cardinal reliever Josh Ring tossed two flawless innings of relief, striking out one, to pick up his record tying 10th save of the season. He is now tied with Todd Raithel on top of the single season save list.
Tulane, who entered the game with the top winning percentage in the country, plated an unearned run in the first when first baseman James Jurries doubled home shortstop Andy Cannizaro who had reached on catcher's interference, making it 1-0 Tulane.
Back-to-back walks to open the top of the third turned into Green Wave runs when, after a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Jay Heintz moved them into scoring position, a single up the middle by second baseman Anthony Giarratanno gave them a 3-0 advantage.
Louisville(31-26, 13-13) loaded the bases in the fifth, and a wild pitch scored shortstop Adam Haley from third. A sacrifice fly to center off the bat of third baseman Mike Budak scored center fielder Mike Hook, and a double by right fielder Morgan Bojorquez scored first baseman J.T. LaFountain, to tie the game at three.
In the bottom of the sixth Haley tripled to the gap in right with two out, and scored when Hook doubled down the right field line to give the Cards a 4-3 advantage.
Tulane answered in the top of the seventh with a two run home run by right fielder James Burgess, putting the Green Wave back on top 5-4.
But Louisville fought back with two in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by catcher Fernando Isa and second baseman Matt Jarboe to regain the lead 6-5.
Louisville added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single by DH Mark Jurich, scoring Hook, who lead off with a single, making it 7-5.
Mike Eilers (5-3) picked up the win, despite giving up two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work. He followed Garrett Estabrook who threw 2.2 scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and two walks. Starter Chase Cruse struggled in his three innings of work, giving up two earned runs on four hits and five walks. He struck out two.
Tulane used five pitchers, and reliever Joey Charron(4-1) took the loss, throwing two innings, and giving up three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two.
Ring entered to start the eighth and retired the one through six hitters in the Green Wave lineup in order, a group that is a combined .363 with 59 home runs and 298 RBI. He is third on the career save list at U of L with his 10, and leads the conference this season in that category.
Despite the loss, by virtue of a Houston loss, the Green Wave(44-9, 20-6) has clinched the number one seed in the 2001 Fed Ex Conference USA Baseball Tournament, which takes place next week at Zephyr Stadium in New Orleans.
The teams will meet in the rubber game Sunday at Cardinal Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
