University of Louisville
UAB *
Cardinal Nine Wears Out Blazers 12-3
May 11, 2002 | Baseball
May 11, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY - Louisville Cardinal freshman pitcher Zach Jackson picked up his ninth win of the season and sophomore outfielder Mark Jurich hit his first career grand slam as the Cards destroyed UAB 12-3 Saturday.
Louisville(34-13, 18-8) has won five straight and eight of its last nine, edging closer to the school record of 38 wins in a season, set in 1980.
Dave Williams Jr. extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games leading off the game with a single through the left side. J.T. LaFountain was then hit by a pitch, and two outs later, Josh Bolen walked to load the bases for third baseman Mike Budak.
Budak lined a 1-2 pitch into the gap in left center, scoring a pair of runs for a 2-0 Cardinal lead.
Consecutive singles by catcher Ken Tirpack, second baseman Scott Gerlach and Williams Jr. plated Tirpack for the third Cardinal run of the game in the second.
In the top of the sixth, UAB had runners at first and second, when second baseman Seth Rollin singled to left. Bolen charged and gloved on a high hop, throwing a strike to Tirpack, nailing Kyle Leon.
Blazer coach Larry Giangrosso vociferously argued the call and was tossed by home plate umpire Mike Wallace.
Gerlach singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Williams followed with his third base hit of the game and LaFountain loaded the bases on a fielder's choice.
Jurich, who had walked in his previous two at bats, took ball one and proceeded to drill the 1-0 pitch deep to right center for his 15th home run of the year and the Cardinals fourth grand slam of the season.
Previously, Carlos De la Osa, LaFountain and Morgan Bojorquez had gone yard with the bases juiced this season.
Bojorquez followed the blast by Jurich with his 14th long ball of the season in back-to-back fashion for an 8-0 Cardinal lead.
It was the first time since April 16, 2000 that Louisville had hit back-to-back home runs.
UAB(15-36, 6-20) got on the board in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by center fielder Mitch Jones after a leadoff walk to catcher Pete Giangrosso.
One out later, right fielder Eric Lyon homered, cutting the lead to 8-3 Louisville.
In the bottom of the eighth, Budak blasted his seventh home run of the season and second in as many days, with two out, increasing the lead to 9-3 Cards.
Pinch hitter Dan Cunningham was then hit by a pitch, and Tirpack singled. A wild pitch scored Cunningham and Gerlach doubled home Tirpack for an 11-3 advantage.
LaFountain closed the scoring, singling home Gerlach for the 12-3 final.
Jackson(9-1) extended his Louisville freshman record with his ninth win, and sits behind Scott Reburn's 10 wins in '94, at second place on the all-time single season win list.
Jackson tossed 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and six walks, striking out two.
Willie McKenzie gave up one hit in 1.2 innings, and Grant Williams walked one and struck out one in the ninth.
Gerlach had a career high four hits, while Tirpack and Williams Jr. each had three safeties and scored twice. Budak, who was 2 for 5 and drove in three has hit safely in 11 consecutive games.
Before Bojorquez' solo home run in the sixth, the Cards had hit nine straight home runs with men on base, including the grand slams by Jurich, and Bojorquez on Wednesday at Evansville. Bojorquez has homered in five of his last six ball games.
The Cardinals will meet UAB for the final game of the series Sunday at Cardinal Stadium beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET, looking for its fourth series sweep of the season. Admission is free.
