University of Louisville
Cincinnati *
Cardinal Nine Edges Bearcats 6-5 in 11th
April 05, 2002 | Baseball
April 5, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY - For the fifth time this season, the University of Louisville baseball team won a game in its final at bat, edging Cincinnati 6-5 in 11 innings Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.
Dave Williams Jr. scored from first on a double by second baseman J.T. LaFountain and an error on rightfielder Aaron Moll with two out in the 11th inning for the winning run.
Cincinnati (11-17-1, 1-8-1) had tied the game in the ninth with a single run, but fall to 0-4-1 in extra inning games. Louisville (18-7, 7-3) is 3-0 when nine innings hasn't been enough to decide the game.
The Bearcats jumped to a 1-0 lead with a tally in the first off of Cardinal starter Scott Barber. Moll singled with the bases loaded to push across a run. A double-play ground ball with one down and the bases-loaded ended the threat of more.
Mark Jurich lead off the second for U of L with a double to deep center and later scored on a sacrifice fly by DH Ken Tirpack to tie the game at one.
Another RBI single by Moll put the Bearcats back on top 2-1 in the third.
Louisville responded in the bottom of the frame when Williams was hit by a pitch to lead off and moved to third on a double by shortstop Adam Haley.
An RBI groundout by LaFountain scored Williams, and U of L took a 3-2 lead when third baseman Mike Budak's fielder's choice scored Haley.
Cincinnati evened the score at three on yet another RBI single by Moll in the fifth. The Bearcats tallied a single run in each of the odd-numbered innings except for the 11th.
In the seventh an RBI single by left fielder Jake Smith put UC on top 4-3.
The Cardinals bounced back with two in the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead. Catcher Fernando Isa lead off with a double down the left field line, and scored on Haley's second double of the contest. Haley was then plated on a single by J.T. LaFountain.
Cincinnati DH Jameson Parker lead off the ninth with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch with no outs.
U of L closer Josh Ring proceeded to notch a pair of strikeouts, but with two down, Smith singled in Parker to tie the game.
UC catcher Chris Hamblen tripled in the 11th with one out, after a strikeout and fly out ended the inning.
Williams reached with a one-out single in the 11th, and after Haley struck out, LaFountain ripped double down the right field line. As Williams was rounding second, Moll mishandled the ball in right, allowing Williams to score on the play, ending the game 6-5 Louisville.
Ring(4-1) was the winner, tossing three scoreless innings in which he gave up two hits and walked two while fanning a season-high six.
Ring followed Carlos Fernandez who surrendered two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings of relief. Barber exited in the fifth, going 4.2 frames, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks to go with two strikeouts.
Bearcat starter Justin Minges gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out two.
Closer Nate Bouldin (1-3) tossed the final four innings, giving up the one unearned run on five hits and a walk, he struck out six in the loss.
Jurich was 3 for 4 with his seventh double and a run scored, while LaFountain and Haley each had a pair of hits.
The same two teams will meet Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. Admission is free.
