University of Louisville
Charlotte *
Eight-run Seventh Lifts Cards to 11-3 Win Saturday
April 20, 2002 | Baseball
April 20, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY - An eight-run explosion in the seventh inning vaulted the Louisville Cardinal baseball team to an 11-3 win over Charlotte Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.
Louisville(24-10, 12-5) has won five straight for the fourth time this season and will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Charlotte(17-21, 7-10) again tallied first when Brad Lamm plated George Sandel with an RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead.
Josh Bolen reached and moved to second on an error by pitcher John Maine. He was then advanced to third on a line out by DH Carlos De la Osa and scored on a sac fly by catcher Ken Tirpack to even the ledger at 1-1 after four.
The 49ers answered with two in the fifth on RBI singles by third baseman Tim Nalls and Sandel, making it 3-1 Charlotte, but the Cards punched home two in the bottom of the frame for a 3-3 tie.
Shortstop Adam Haley lead off the inning with a single up the middle, advanced to second on an error by centerfielder Brian Bowman and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Second baseman J.T. LaFountain then singled in Haley, cutting the lead in half. Right fielder Mark Jurich singled, moving LaFountain to third, and LaFountain later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of first baseman Morgan Bojorquez.
Maine started the seventh, but was chased by a leadoff single by Jurich. Zachary Treadway entered and Bojorquez blasted a ground rule double to left, putting runners at second and third.
A wild pitch scored Jurich for a 4-3 Cardinal lead, and an out later an intentional walk to De la Osa put runners at the corners.
Third baseman Mike Budak promptly ripped a double down the left field line, scoring two and chasing Treadway. Mark Ferguson entered and gave up an RBI single to Tirpack for an 8-3 Cardinal lead.
With two out in the seventh and five runs home, Haley singled and LaFountain followed, doubling home a run before Jurich walked to load the bases.
Charlotte's Pat Gambale entered and Bojorquez popped one into no man's land in shallow left center. Three defenders closed on the ball, but none made a play, clearing the bases for a three-run double and cap to eight run inning.
Defending C-USA Pitcher of the Year Maine(4-6) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on six hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out five.
Treadway gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in one third of an inning, and Ferguson was touched for four runs on three hits and a walk in the same span.
Cardinal starter Mike Tisdale tossed six strong innings, but did not figure into the decision. He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts.
Garrett Estabrook (2-1) gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings of work for the win. Carlos Fernandez hurled a perfect ninth, striking out one.
Bojorquez drove in a season high four runs, while LaFountain, Budak and Tirpack each plated two. LaFountain enjoyed his sixth three-hit effort of the season, while Haley, Jurich, Bojorquez, Budak and Tirpack each had two hits as the Cards pounded out 15 safeties on the day.
Sandel and Lamm each had two hits in the losing effort for Charlotte.
