University of Louisville
<B>BALL STATE</B>
Cardinal Nine Dominates Ball State 9-1
March 13, 2004 | Baseball
March 13, 2004
LOUISVILLE, KY - Freshman Justin Valdes twirled seven innings, allowing just one run and striking out eight, leading the University of Louisville baseball team to a 9-1 win over Ball State on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.
The U of L offense provided runs in each of the first four innings, including a three-run second.
Ball State(5-5) scored its only run in the first on an RBI single by Brad Miller, making 1-0 BSU.
U of L(6-7) evened the game when Nick Haley scored from third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Isaiah Howes in the bottom of the first.
Greg Taylor singled with one out in the second, and Boomer Whiting followed with a bunt single.
Haley scored Taylor with a single, and after a double steal put runners at second and third, Chris Cates drove a single up the middle to plate two and give Louisville a 4-1 advantage.
Howes scored on a walk to Haley with the bases loaded in the third, making it 5-1 U of L.
In the fourth inning, Howes reached on an error with two out, and Ryan McKinnon drilled a triple to straightaway center, scoring Howes. McKinnon the stole home for a 7-1 Louisville lead.
Mark Jurich singled home Whiting in the eighth, and another sac fly by Howes again plated Haley and closed the books.
Valdes (2-2) scattered seven hits and three walks, stranding ten runners on base. He tossed 1-2-3 innings in the second and the sixth.
Sophomore Jason Keck gave up a hit and a walk, fanning one in a scoreless eighth, and Steve Ayers struck out one in a perfect ninth.
Mike Johnston (1-2) took the loss allowing seven runs, three of which were earned on seven hits and four walks in four innings for BSU.
Haley was 2 for 2 with a triple, three walks, three runs and two RBI in the leadoff spot. McKinnon had three hits, while Jurich singled twice. Howes and Cates each drove in a pair, while Whiting scored twice.
Louisville stole five bases in five attempts.
U of L will face Cincinnati in a non-conference match-up Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. The Bearcats (2-11) lost 12-5 to Ball State on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., and will again face BSU the same time Sunday.
