University of Louisville
<B>SOUTHERN MISS</B> *
Cardinal Rally Falls Short in Ninth
March 21, 2003 | Baseball
March 21, 2003
LOUISVILLE, KY - A four-run rally in the ninth fell just short as the University of Louisville Cardinal baseball team dropped a nailbiter to 26th-ranked Southern Miss 7-6 on Friday at Cardinal Stadium.
Jason Lowrey's solo home run and Clint King's two-run shot in the first put the Golden Eagles up 3-0. In the Third, King delivered his second home run of the game, a solo act to right center, making it 4-0 USM.
Louisville (12-6, 2-2) picked up a run in the third when Boomer Whiting scored on a ground out by Josh Bolen to cut the lead to 4-1.
In the fourth Matt Sheppard scored on a ground out by Lowrey and another run was plated on a sac fly by King to up the lead to 6-1.
Whiting lead off the Cardinal fifth with a triple to the gap in left center and scored on a sac fly by shortstop J.T. LaFountain edging the Cards closer, at 6-2, but another Golden Eagle sac fly plated its seventh run of the game, recapturing a five-run lead.
The Cardinal rally in the ninth began with a walk to Dave Williams Jr., a single by J.T. LaFountain and a walk to Bolen to load the bases. Cardinal first baseman Morgan Bojorquez ripped a single to center to score Williams for a 7-3 margin.
Catcher Ron Braun stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded an out later and drilled a pitch into the right field corner, plating two more and cutting the advantage to 7-5.
Cardinal infielder Greg Taylor delivered a single through the right side to score Bojorquez and put the winning run at first, but the Cards couldn't deliver the knockout blow.
Southern Miss (16-5, 4-0) starter Anthony DeWitt (4-1) earned the win, giving up two runs on nine hits in six innings while fanning one.
Reliever Ray Antonelli was touched for four runs on five hits and three walks in 2.1 innings in relief of DeWitt. He struck out five.
John Nicholas picked up the save, his first of the season, giving up two hits in two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.
Cardinal starter Zach Jackson (1-2) was saddled with the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits and three walks in five frames, striking out one.
Jon Harbridge gave up a run on three hits and two walks in 1.2 innings of relief.
Mike Eilers closed things out for the Cards, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up a harmless single and striking out two.
Braun led the Cardinal offense, which outhit USM 16-12, with a 4 for 5 day at the plate, driving in two. Taylor and LaFountain also collected three hits apiece for the Cards.
King paced the Golden Eagles driving in four on a 3 for 4 afternoon.
The same two teams are scheduled to complete the three game series Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and again on Sunday at 1:00 p.m..
Admission and parking, when entering at gate four, is free for all games at Cardinal Stadium and radio broadcasts can be heard on WAVG 1450 AM.
