University of Louisville
at Tulane *
Cardinal Nine Survives Rally By Tulane
May 04, 2002 | Baseball
May 4, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Louisville Cardinal baseball team evened its weekend series with Tulane at a game apiece, hanging on for an 8-7 win over the Green Wave on Saturday.
Louisville(30-13, 15-8) first baseman Morgan Bojorquez was 3 for 4 with his 11th home run of the season and four RBI to lead the red and black.
Cardinal shortstop J.T. LaFountain reached on a one out single in the first, advanced to second on a balk by Tulane starter Beau Richardson and scored on an RBI single by Bojorquez for a 1-0 Cardinal advantage.
Tulane responded with a tally in the second on an RBI double by third baseman Anthony Giarratano to tie up the game at one.
In the bottom of the third, Tulane centerfielder Jon Kaplan was on at second, and first baseman Aaron Feldman doubled to left. Josh Bolen fielded the ball cleanly and fired a strike to the bag at third, where Kaplan had turned toward home. In the ensuing rundown, Kaplan delivered a forearm to the head of Cardinal catcher Fernando Isa, was called out and was ejected. Head Coach Rick Jones, leaped out of the dugout, and after a demonstrative rhubarb was tossed as well.
Right fielder Mark Jurich doubled down the right field line to lead off the fourth and Bojorquez followed with his 11th home run of the season for a 3-1 advantage.
Cardinal second baseman Scott Gerlach singled with one out in the fifth, center fielder Dave Williams Jr. reached on a single and LaFountain plated Gerlach with a single of his own, moving Williams Jr. to third. A balk scored Williams and Bojorquez singled home LaFountain for a 6-1 Cardinal lead.
Giarratano singled home a run for Tulane in the sixth and pinch-hitter Scott Madden lifted a two-run home run to left-center, cutting the lead to 6-4. Second baseman James Jurries hit his league-leading 16th home run of the year to deep center field with two out in the seventh, making it 6-5 U of L.
In the top of the ninth, DH Ken Tirpack walked and advanced to second on a groundout by catcher Fernando Isa. With two out Gerlach cranked a double off the wall in straight away center, scoring Tirpack, and Williams Jr. followed with an RBI single to score Gerlach for an 8-5 Cardinal advantage.
As it turned out, the insurance runs would prove to be the difference as Jurries came to the plate with a runner on and two out and hit his second home run of the game to trim the lead to 8-7. Closer Grant Williams, who entered to pitch the ninth, induced a ground ball to short that was gloved by LaFountain, but thrown over the head of Bojorquez at first. Williams then struck out left fielder Brian Stelmak on three pitches to end the game and tally his third save of the season.
Louisville starter Zach Jackson (7-1) picked up the win, tossing six innings, and allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk, while fanning two. Jackson has won his past four outings for the Cardinals.
Carlos Fernandez gave up a run on two hits in two frames of work, striking out one. Williams surrendered two runs on two hits to go with a strikeout in the ninth.
Richardson (3-4) gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk in seven innings, while striking out four. Joey Charron tossed the final two frames, and was touched for a pair of runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out two.
Bojorquez and Williams Jr. each extended hitting streaks to 10 games. Williams Jr. has two or more hits in five of his last seven games, and has not gone three straight without a hit on the season. He has reached base safely in 21 of his last 22 games. Bojorquez is 16 for 38 with 15 RBI during the streak, and is 5 for 9 with seven RBI and two runs scored in the first two games of the Tulane series.
Williams Jr., LaFountain and Gerlach each had two hits and an RBI on the day.
Head Coach Lelo Prado has now won 30 games for the fourth time in his seven years as a Cardinal and is the only coach with more than two in his career. It is the second time he has won 30 or more in back-to-back seasons.
The 15 wins in Conference USA surpasses the 14 they won in '98 and '99, with seven conference games remaining
Louisville and Tulane will meet for the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1:00p.m. ET.
