University of Louisville
at Saint Louis *
Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader and Series from Billikens
March 23, 2002 | Baseball
March 23, 2002
ST. LOUIS, MO - The University of Louisville baseball team rallied for three runs in the ninth, and scored two in the tenth to win game two of a doubleheader at Saint Louis 6-4, and complete a series sweep of the Billikens Saturday.
The Cards won 2-1 in the first game of the double header Saturday and 6-1 on Friday. Louisville stands alone in first place with a 6-0 mark in Conference USA and 16-4 overall. The 6-0 record is the best conference start in the history of Cardinal baseball.
Game one was a pitcher's game from the start. Louisville plated an unearned run in the second when Mike Budak reached second base on a throwing error, advanced to third on a single by catcher Fernando Isa and scored when a collision at home knocked the ball out of the glove of SLU catcher Andrew Slania.
The Billikens(9-10, 1-5) responded in the fourth on right fielder Jim Bredenkoetter's second home run of the season, a solo shot that knotted the game at one.
Cardinal right fielder Mark Jurich walked to lead off the sixth and raced around the bases on a double by first baseman Morgan Bojorquez that gave the Cards a 2-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, SLU threatened with men at first and second with one out when Bredekoetter singled to left. Pinch runner David Samples rounded third to score but was nailed at the plate on a perfect strike from U of L left fielder Josh Bolen, and the Cards escaped the frame unscathed.
Bolen later made a diving catch in foul territory for the first out in the seventh and Budak made a nice stab on a wicked hop for the second out of the ninth.
Zach Jackson started for the Cards and improved to 3-0 with the win. He gave up a run on four hits and a walk while fanning four in 5.1 innings of work. Grant Williams tossed 2.2 innings in relief allowing a hit and a walk. He now has 14 consecutive scoreless innings to start the season.
Josh Ring picked up his second save of the season allowing a hit and a walk in the ninth to go with a strikeout. Ring now has 12 saves in his Cardinal career, third in Louisville history.
Bojorquez and Isa each had a pair of hits for the Cards.
Saint Louis starter Cory Lawson was the hard-luck loser, allowing just one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out four and going the distance.
The nightcap featured a comeback to remember for the Cards.
Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the second for the third time in as many games against the Bills. Budak, who had singled with one out, scored on an RBI single by DH Ken Tirpack.
Saint Louis left fielder Kurt Evans doubled in a run in the third for a tie score, and a two-run single by third baseman Ryan Murphy gave the Billikens a 3-1 advantage.
A bases-loaded walk in the seventh added to the lead and put the Cards down 4-1 heading to the ninth.
With one out in the ninth, Isa singled and Tirpack followed with a single of his own, putting runners at first and second. Freshman Curt Stewart induced a pinch-hit walk to load the bases for Adam Haley. Dan Cunningham entered as a pinch runner for Stewart, and Haley struck out.
With two down in the ninth with the bases loaded, second baseman J.T. LaFountain worked the count to 2-1 before ripping a double to left field, clearing the bases and dramatically tying the game at four.
Cardinal reliever Clif Novak, who had allowed a walk in the eighth, retired the first batter of the ninth, and turned it over to Ring who mowed down Bredenkoetter and Lawson by way of the strikeout.
In the top of the tenth, Bojorquez was hit by a pitch to lead off and was sacrificed to second by Budak. Bolen followed by launching a 1-2 pitch high into the air in right and out for his fifth home run on the season, and a 6-4 Cardinal lead.
Ring retired the side in order in the tenth to seal the incredible Cardinal victory.
The senior from Niceville, Florida improved to 2-0 with the win, retiring all five batters he faced, three by way of the strikeout.
U of L starter Carlos Fernandez was solid, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk, adding a strikeout. Garret Estabrook entered with the bases loaded in the sixth with one out, and induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. Estabrook allowed one run on three hits and two walks in an inning and two-thirds. He struck out one.
Isa now has an 11-game hit streak.
LaFountain was 4 for 5 with three RBI and added nine assists in the field, while Tirpack and Haley each had a pair of safeties.
Billiken reliever Greg Coles took the loss, allowing two runs on one hit, working the tenth.
The Cardinals next game is Wednesday at Cardinal Stadium against Evansville at 3:00 p.m. before they head to Tampa, Florida to face South Florida for three next weekend.
