University of Louisville
<b>KENTUCKY</b>
Cardinal Nine Clips Cats, 7-5
April 22, 2003 | Baseball
April 22, 2003
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University of Louisville and the Kentucky Wildcats combined for 11 runs in a wild first inning, but then settled in to a nail-biter that the Cards won 7-5 at Slugger Field Tuesday night.
In the top of the first the Wildcats (16-23) plated all five of its runs. Two walks and hit batter loaded the bases and a fielder's choice by Spencer Graeter plated the first run. Caleb Stewart singled home another, and another fielder's choice, this one by Jake Kungl, made it 3-0.
A single by Caleb Brock chased Cardinal starter Chase Cruse, and catcher Aaron Edwards singled home two more runs for the 5-0 advantage.
The Cards (24-13) responded in the bottom of the first with six runs, in an inning that ended up lasting 40 minutes.
Dave Williams Jr. walked and stole second, his 20th on the season, and scored on a single by Josh Bolen. Ron Braun blistered a double off the wall in left-center scoring Bolen and cutting the lead to 5-2.
Morgan Bojorquez walked and J.T. LaFountain was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Ryan McKinnon who singled to short, beating the throw to first and scoring a pair to cut the lead to one.
Nick Haley followed with single to second that scored LaFountain to tie it a five. A throwing error by Graeter on the play put runners at second and third and chased Wildcat starter Aaron Tennyson. Dave Williams Jr. then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that scored McKinnon to give the Cards a 6-5 lead.
Tennyson (0-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs, five of which were earned, on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Cruse did not figure into the decision, allowing five runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
A pitcher's duel ensued, as Jimmy Rose and Matt Scott combined to toss six innings of shutout baseball, allowing a walk and six hits and striking out four for the Cats.
Brian Halford (2-0) logged 2.2 innings of relief, giving up three hits and picking up the victory, while Zach Jackson followed with 3.2 scoreless frames, allowing three hits.
In the top of the eighth, UK put the tying run at second with one out, but Carlos Fernandez struck out the next two to escape the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Williams tripled to left-center and Bolen walked with two out. Mark Jurich hit a roller to short that Joe Naill fielded, and instead of throwing to first, he tried to beat Bolen to the bag at second, losing the race and allowing Williams to score an insurance run.
Fernandez walked the leadoff man in the ninth, and Naill singled to put the tying run at first, but the Cardinal closer put down the next three in order, to secure the win and his sixth save of the season.
Williams extended his hitting streak to 13 games, joining Braun and Haley with two hits apiece. Williams also stole his 41st career base, putting him in fourth at U of L. His 20th on the season puts him tied for seventh.
LaFountain was hit by a pitch twice in the game and has been plunked 14 times on the season, tying a record set by Adam Haley in 2001.
Fernandez is now tied for third in single season saves with six, and has 10 for his career, placing him fourth in Cardinal history. He appeared for the 69th time in his career, the fifth most in Cardinal history.
Jackson, just a sophomore, is tied for third on the all-time win list at Louisville winning his 17th, and tied for ninth with his seven on the season.
Louisville will host East Carolina for a three-game C-USA series beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. Admission and parking are free and an audio broadcast is available at WAVG 1450 AM.
