University of Louisville
at Houston *
Cardinal Nine Hangs on to Top Houston 8-6
May 03, 2003 | Baseball
May 3, 2003
HOUSTON, TX - The University of Louisville Cardinal baseball team took an early 5-1 lead, and held on for an 8-6 win over Houston Saturday to even the weekend series at one game apiece.
Dave Williams Jr. singled to lead off the ballgame, extending his hitting streak to 20 games. He moved to second on a balk by Houston starter Danny Zell and scored on a double to the gap in right by Boomer Whiting for a 1-0 Cardinal lead.
The lead was short lived, as Michael Bourn lead off the bottom of the first with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a single by third baseman Hyung Cho to tie the game at one.
The Cards(28-16, 11-11) broke out for four runs in the top of the third.
Nick Haley walked, and Williams bunted for base hit. A sacrifice by Whiting moved the runners, and a walk to Bolen loaded the bases for Mark Jurich, who rolled a come-backer under the glove of Zell that was ruled an error and allowed Haley to score and keep the bases full of Cards.
Morgan Bojorquez followed with an infield single that plated Williams, and LaFountain drilled a two-run double down the left field line making it 5-1 Cards.
Again Houston(27-21, 15-8) responded, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Cole Bruce and an error by Cardinal third baseman Ryan McKinnon, cutting the lead to 5-3.
Louisville picked up three runs in the fifth on an RBI double by McKinnon and a passed ball to make it 8-3, but the Cougars again had an answer in the bottom of the fifth when Cho lifted a two-run home run over the fence in left to make it 8-5 U of L.
Cardinal starter Zach Jackson (7-4) tossed 5.2 innings, allowing five runs -- four earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out four in the win.
Carlos Fernandez earned his eighth save of the season, allowing a run on three hits. He struck out three, including the final batter with the tying run at second.
Zell(8-4) took the loss, tossing 4.2 frames, surrendering eight runs -- six earned on eight hits and four walks. He struck out three.
LaFountain was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, while Williams and Bojorquez each had a pair of hits.
The Cardinals and Cougars will match up for the deciding game of the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
