University of Louisville
Vanderbilt
Cards Crush Commodores 12-3
February 23, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2002
A two-run single by Adam Haley and a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Mark Jurich topped a nine-run seventh inning, breaking a 3-3 tie in the Cardinals 12-3 win over Vanderbilt Saturday.
The Cards are 2-0 and look for the sweep Sunday when junior Clif Novak(0-0, 0.00) takes the hill for Louisville. Ballard graduate Jeremy Sowers(0-0, 0.00) will make his collegiate debut for the Commodores(4-2) at 1:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium.
"I am encouraged with our start, an I hope we can stay focused and continue to do things it takes to win ballgames," said Cardinal Head Coach Lelo Prado.
Haley blasted a 3-2 pitch to right-center to lead off the first for the Cards and give them a 1-0 advantage. It was Haley's second four-bagger in as many days, and extended his hitting streak to 11 games, dating back to last season.
The Cards added two more in the third inning. Third baseman Mike Budak singled to lead off and scored on a triple in the gap in left by Jurich. A sacrifice fly by Morgan Bojorquez scored Jurich for the 3-0 lead.
Jurich tied a school record with his two triples on the afternoon, a record established by Jamie Fiepke against Georgetown(2/26/87), and equalled by Charlie Allen against Kentucky(3/7/92).
The Commodores solved Cardinal starter Scott Barber in the fifth, when with two outs, a walk and a single set the table for a game-tying three run homer to left by first baseman Sean Luellwitz.
Barber went 4.2 frames in his D-I debut, giving up the three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. After a leadoff walk, he struck out the side in the first.
Barber gave way to senior Grant Williams who got out of the inning and tossed a scoreless sixth. Williams, a transfer from Kansas surrendered just two hits and a walk in his 1.1 innings, striking out two. He was followed by Carlos Fernandez(1-0) who picked up the win. Fernandez struck out five and gave up only one hit in two scoreless frames. Josh Ring hurled a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one. Cardinal pitchers struck out 12 and walked just three.
The nine run seventh saw 13 batters and included five hits, five walks, two wild pitches, a balk and a stolen base. Freshman Curt Stewart singled home a run in his first collegiate at-bat and Dave Williams Jr. singled home a run before the Haley and Jurich heroics. Josh Bolen walked twice in the inning, scoring two runs and stealing a base.
Four pitchers toed the rubber in the seventh for Vandy, including starter Jeff Little(1-1) who took the loss. Little was touched for six runs on seven hits and four walks in 6.1 innings of work, striking out three. Scott Shapiro managed only one out before giving up five runs on two hits and three walks.
Haley was 3 for 5 with three RBI, two runs and a walk as well as two spectacular plays in the field at short. Jurich was 3 for 4 and was intentionally walked in his first at bat of the seventh inning, while driving in four and scoring two. The only out he accounted for was a fly ball caught at the wall in center in front of the 405 foot mark.
Junior Dan Cunningham also singled in his first D-I at bat in the eighth for U of L, as Louisville outhit Vandy 12-9.
Admission to all baseball games at Cardinal Stadium is free, and live audio broadcasts can be found at UofLsports.com.
