University of Louisville
vs. TCU (Conference USA Tournament)
Cardinal Nine Turn Away Frogs 5-1
May 21, 2003 | Baseball
May 21, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Mike Eilers tossed six innings of two-hit ball, Ron Braun and Josh Bolen drove in all five runs and Carlos Fernandez closed the door in the University of Louisville's 5-1 win over TCU in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament Wednesday.
The seventh-seeded Cardinals will face third-seeded Tulane at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday night in the double elimination format.
Dave Williams Jr. lifted a bloop single into left field and stole second before J.T LaFountain walked to open the top of the first. Mark Jurich moved the runners over on a comebacker, and with two out in the inning, catcher Ron Braun bounced a single up the middle, giving the Cards a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Jurich was hit by TCU starter Clayton Jerome's first pitch of the inning, and Josh Bolen followed with a gargantuan blast to left center field, clearing the scoreboard and giving Louisville a 4-0 advantage.
The Frogs(35-20, 22-8) got on the board in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Jake Duncan, scoring Shaff Elkouri from third, cutting the advantage to 4-1.
Braun doubled home Bolen, who had reached on an error, with two out in the ninth for an insurance run.
Eilers(6-3) allowed a single run on two hits and three walks, striking out two, in picking up the win.
Senior closer Carlos Fernandez added to his school records, notching his 12th save of the season in his 30th outing on the year. He tossed three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
He lowered his league-leading ERA, which was sixth in the nation entering the game to 1.28, and appeared in a game for the 79th time in his Cardinal career, tying the all-time record. His 16 career saves is two behind the record of 18 set by Kerry Griffith from 1983-85. His career ERA is second lowest in U of L history at 3.76, as is his single season mark.
Jerome (9-4), named C-USA Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday, took the loss - his second consecutive loss to the Cards, tossing six innings, and allowing four runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out five.
In the top of the seventh inning, with two out, third base umpire Penny Costello called the teams off of the field due to lightning, beginning a one-hour and 36 minute rain delay.
Braun was 2 for 3 with two walks and three RBI, while Morgan Bojorquez added a pair of hits.
Williams made 10 putouts in centerfield. LaFountain now has a 11-game hit streak, thanks to his double in third, while Bolen has hit safely in 10 straight games.
Louisville has not won in the first round of the conference tournament since 1998 in New Orleans. The Cards took 2 of 3 from Tulane in Louisville earlier this season.
Radio broadcast of the game can be heard in Louisville on WAVG 1450.
