University of Louisville
vs. San Diego State
McKinnon and Jurich Lift Cardinal Nine to Win
February 21, 2004 | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2004
LOS ANGELES, CA - Ryan McKinnon and Mark Jurich combined for a pair of home runs and seven RBI as the University of Louisville Cardinal baseball team overwhelmed San Diego State 19-6 on Saturday in the Public Storage Classic.
Louisville plated a pair of runs in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Boomer Whiting reached on a leadoff walk, Nick Haley followed with a single that moved Whiting to third, and an RBI groundout by Jurich scored Whiting. When the throw home by second baseman Lance Zawadzki went to the backstop, Haley also scored.
Back-to-back RBI singles by the Aztecs' Brandon Rauch and Clay Coulter, evened the game at two in the third.
Freshman Isaiah Howes doubled with one out in the fourth, Ken Tirpack walked, and Danny Plasencia beat out the relay on a double play, putting runners at first and third. McKinnon walked to load the bases, and Chris Cates ground ball was mishandled by SDSU(6-10) shortstop James Guererro, allowing Howes to score, giving the Cards a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, Tirpack singled, Plasencia reached on a sacrifice attempt and another error by Zawadzki, on a McKinnon ground ball, plated Tirpack in the sixth. After a sacrifice by Cates, Whiting roped a two-run double down the left field line for a 6-2 lead.
A single by Jurich plated the seventh run for the Cards, capping the inning.
Landon Burt singled home a run, and Guererro plated another for the Aztecs to cut the lead to 7-4.
Tirpack walked to lead off the seventh, and after freshman Logan Johnson pinch ran for him, McKinnon doubled, putting runners at second and third.
With the infield in, Cates ripped a double down the left field line, driving in two, extending the lead to 9-4 Cardinals.
Ryan Wilson singled home a run for San Diego State in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-5.
Jurich lead off the eighth with his first home run of the season, a blast to left center on a 2-0 pitch. Catcher Ron Braun walked, and Howes followed with a single. An RBI groundout for Adam Mallette and another Aztec error on a McKinnon ground ball extended the lead to 12-5.
The only Cardinal error lead to the final Aztec run in the eighth.
The Cardinals followed in the ninth with a seven-run inning.
Jurich lead off with a double to right and Braun walked. Howes reached on a fielder's choice and Mallette walked to load the bases.
Luis Pardo singled home a run, and McKinnon followed with a towering shot to straightaway-center field for his first career grand slam, and a 17-6 lead.
Cates doubled for the second time in the game, Whiting singled, and a pair of wild pitches closed out the scoring.
SDSU starter Daryl Harang(1-2) took the loss, tossing five innings, allowing three runs, two earned on three hits and four walks while fanning five. Four Aztec pitchers finished out the game, allowing 16 run, 18 earned on 12 hits and eight walks to go with four K's.
Freshman Justin Valdes (1-0) earned the win, tossing four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and six walks, while striking out three.
Junior Chase Cruse followed with a perfect fifth, but was touched for two runs on a hit and a walk in the sixth. Freshman Mike Lynn made his collegiate debut on the mound, surrendering one earned run on two hits and four walks, striking out three in three innings of work.
Sophomore Skylar Meade gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth.
Jurich and McKinnon had three hits apiece, while Whiting, Cates and Howes each had two. Howes, Whiting and McKinnon each scored three runs.
Every starter scored a run, as Louisville pounded out 15 hits in the three-hour and 54 minute marathon.
The 19 runs was the most the Cardinals have scored since a 24-5 shellacking of Wright State on March 5, 1999.
Rain persisted throughout the game and is in the forecast, but the Cards are scheduled to face Notre Dame on Sunday at 12:30 a.m. ET. in their final game of the Public Storage Classic. The game can be found at UofLsports.com or in Louisville on WAVG 1450.
