University of Louisville
vs. Tulane (Conference USA Tournament)
Cardinal Nine Drops Heartbreaker to Tulane
May 22, 2003 | Baseball
May 22, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The University of Louisville Cardinal baseball team locked into a pitcher's duel with Tulane, but fell short in a 3-1 loss in round two of the Conference USA Tournament Thursday night.
The Cards (33-22) will face South Florida on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to face Tulane on Saturday.
Louisville's Zach Jackson and Tulane's J.R. Crowell, a pair of lefty underclassmen, scattered nine hits, and allowed just two earned runs between them.
Jackson (7-6) was the hard-luck loser, tossing eight innings, and giving up three runs - two earned on five hits and two walks while striking out four. His total of 112.2 innings on the season is a new U of L record.
Crowell (8-0), the C-USA Freshman of the Year matched Jackson's eight innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits and four walks, fanning a season-high seven. Joey Charron earned his 12th save with a scoreless ninth, striking out one.
Carlos Fernandez, who set a Cardinal career record with his 80th appearance, retired the side on a hit and a strikeout in the ninth.
Tulane (42-16), who is now 32-2 at Turchin Stadium this season, got on the board in the third when a throwing error by U of L third baseman Ryan McKinnon on a ground ball off the bat of Brian Bormaster allowed Tommy Manzella to score from first.
A single and a stolen base put Tulane's Gerald Clark at second with two out in the fourth, and a single by Manzella plated the second run of the game for a 2-0 Green Wave lead.
The duel ensued through the seventh, before the Cards broke through in the eighth. J.T. LaFountain reached on an error to lead off, and two outs later catcher Ron Braun walked.
Morgan Bojorquez stepped to the plate and drilled a double off the wall in left center. LaFountain scored easily, but a relay throw from shortstop Tony Giarratano nailed Braun at the plate, preventing a tie ballgame.
Tulane grabbed an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single by Bormaster to close the scoring.
Bojorquez picked up a pair of hits, driving in the Cards' only run.
Louisville won two of three against South Florida during the regular season.
