University of Louisville
Memphis *
Cardinal Nine Completes Sweep of Memphis
March 17, 2002 | Baseball
March 17, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY- The Louisville Cardinal baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Memphis with a 9-8 win at Cardinal Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers (3-11, 0-3) took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by first baseman Andy Gesell.
The Cards (12-3, 2-0) responded in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Carlos De la Osa, his second on the weekend, and an RBI single by shortstop Adam Haley.
With the single, Haley extended his hitting streak to 17 games, and U of L took a 3-1 lead.
Louisville increased it's lead to 5-1 on a two-run double by Ken Tirpack in the third.
A two-run double by right fielder Josh Payne plated two for Memphis in the top half of the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-3.
Designated hitter Mark Jurich lead off the bottom of the fifth with a double and scored on a single by third baseman Mike Budak making it 6-3 Louisville.
Memphis answered with two more in the sixth on an RBI groundout by second baseman Michael Lewis and a sacrifice fly shortstop Brent Dlugatch, creeping to within 6-5.
A pair of walks to J.T. LaFountain and Jurich, lead to a three-run home run of the bat of first baseman Morgan Bojorquez, bumping the lead up to 9-5. It was Bojorquez' fifth home run of the season, a new career high, and gave him a team-leading 23 RBI.
Memphis fought back for another run in the top of the seventh when DH Barrett Smith lead off with a double, was balked to third and scored on a wild pitch, narrowing the margin to 9-6.
Both sides were retired in order in the eighth, before Memphis made things interesting in the ninth.
A leadoff single by center fielder Paul Cookman, and a single by Gesell put runners at first and second. Payne singled home a run, and pinch hitter Jay Fik hit a sacrifice fly to right, cutting lead to a single run at 9-8, but a ground ball to first ended the threat and the game.
Zach Jackson (2-0) started for the Cards and picked up his second win of the week, tossing five innings and giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out a career-high seven.
Mike Eilers tossed an inning, surrendering two run on a hit and walk.
Josh Ring picked up the save, pitching the final three innings, in which he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while fanning three. It was his first of the season, and 11th of his Cardinal career.
Memphis starter Michael Novarese (0-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on four hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts.
Haley, Jurich and De la Osa each had two hits, while Budak, De la Osa and Jurich each scored twice.
After playing the first 15 at home, the Cardinals will hit the road for nine of the next ten, starting with a two-game set at 16th-ranked Oklahoma State Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
