University of Louisville
at Southern Miss *
Cardinal Nine Beat 7-2 by Southern Miss
April 12, 2002 | Baseball
April 12, 2002
HATTIESBURG, MS - A six-run sixth inning, marked by two Cardinal errors boosted the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to a 7-2 win over the Louisville Cardinals(19-10, 8-5) Friday night at Pete Taylor Park.
Southern Miss(24-11, 10-3) tallied twice in the first on an RBI single by catcher Brad Wilcutt and a sac fly from first baseman Griff Israel for a 2-0 lead.
Cardinal right fielder Mark Jurich launched his team-leading ninth home run over the fence in right center in the third, cutting the advantage in half, 2-1.
The fateful sixth began with a high fly ball to right off the bat of third baseman Allen Winningham. Jurich drifted toward the line to make the catch and slipped on the wet grass, turning it into a fluke double.
An out later Wilcutt singled home a run on a violent collision at the plate that knocked the ball loose from catcher Fernando Isa and knocked him out of the game.
After a walk and a single loaded the bases and chased starter Scott Barber, a walk to Jarrett Hoffpauir plated the second run of the inning. Errors by Carlos De la Osa and Mike Budak on fielder's choice ground balls plated runs to put USM in charge 6-1.
A solo home run by Winningham nudged the lead to 7-1 in the seventh.
De la Osa doubled down the right field line with one out in the eighth, advanced to third on a single by Dave Williams Jr. and scored on a wild pitch for the final margin. Williams' single extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Barber(1-3) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on eight hits and a walk in 5.1 innings of work. Carlos Fernandez allowed a run on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings, striking out one.
Willie McKenzie surrendered two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning, striking out two.
Southern Miss starter Shea Douglas(7-1) surrendered a run on eight hits and three walks in seven strong innings, striking out five in the win.
Anthony Dewitt permitted a run on two hits in the final two frames for USM.
Jurich and Ken Tirpack each had a pair of hits for the Cards. Jurich's home run was the first off of Douglas in 57 innings of work this season.
The same two teams will meet for the second game of the series on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET.
