University of Louisville
Illinois
Baseball Rally Falls Short
March 10, 2002 | Baseball
March 10, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY- A Late rally fell short, as the Cards dropped a 6-5 decision to Illinois Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. The Cards scored single runs in the eighth and ninth, and had runners at first and third with two out in the ninth, but were unable to even the score.
The Illini(4-1), who defeated Kent State 5-4 earlier in the day, took a 1-0 lead in the first off a leadoff home run by left fielder Drew Davidson.
The Cardinals(7-2) countered when Josh Bolen beat out a ground ball for an infield single, and Mark Jurich blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season to the seats in right to give U of L a 2-1 advantage.
In the third, Jurich smacked his sixth long ball of the season, a solo shot to increase the lead to 3-1.
Illinois plated two in the fourth to tie things up on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, and took the lead 4-3 in the sixth on a lead off home run by catcher Patrick Arlis.
The Illini padded the lead to 6-3 with two more in the seventh on a walk, two hits and an error.
The Cards edged closer with a run in the eighth on an RBI single by pinch hitter Carlos De la Osa.
The ninth-inning rally started when DH Curt Stewart was hit by a pitch with one out. After the second out of the inning, second baseman Scott Gerlach tripled down the left field line to score Stewart, to make it 6-5. Ken Tirpack walked as a pinch hitter, before catcher Fernando Isa lined out to right center to end the game.
Defending Big 10 pitcher of the year Andy Dickinson(2-0) gave up five runs on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out six in 8.2 innings in the win. Josh Lane recorded the final out of the game to pick up his first save of the season.
U of L starter Mike Eilers was ousted after giving up three runs on five hits and three walks, while fanning four in four innings. He was relieved by Garrett Estabrook (1-1) who took the loss, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out two in 2.1 innings.
Senior Grant Williams threw the final 2.2 innings, giving up just a single hit and striking out five.
Jurich left the game in the sixth after injuring his ankle while running the bases. He had hit five home runs in his past 11 at-bats, driving in 10 runs before exiting.
Bolen and Isa also had two hits apiece for Cards. Bolen has hit safely in each of the Cards nine games this season.
Louisville fell to Kent State in the second game Sunday 13-4.
