University of Louisville
<b>MARSHALL</b>
Jurich Lifts Cardinal Nine
March 30, 2004 | Baseball
March 30, 2004
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University of Louisville baseball team exploded for 12 unanswered runs in a 17-5 route of Marshall on Tuesday at Cardinal Stadium. Senior Mark Jurich drilled a grand slam into the seats in right in the sixth inning to snap the 5-5 tie as part of a 4 for 5 afternoon that saw him drive in a career best six runs.
Marshall(11-15) opened up a 2-0 lead in the first on four straight singles and a passed ball.
The Cardinals(15-9) responded with two of their own in the second to tie the game.
U of L first baseman Logan Johnson walked to open the frame, Daniel Burton singled and Isaiah Howes plated Johnson. A passed ball scored Burton to even the score.
Marshall scored two more in the third on a two-run single by first baseman Corie O'Bryan, making it 4-2 Herd.
Freshman Chris Cates reached on an error and moved to third on a single by Jurich. Catcher Ron Braun singled home Cates, and an out later, Ryan McKinnon cleared the bases with a triple off the wall in left to give the Cards a 5-4 lead.
O'Bryan singled home another run in the fourth to even the game at five.
With two out in the sixth, DH Danny Plasencia, second baseman Nick Haley and Cates singled in consecutive order to load the bases for Jurich. With the count 2-2, the Cardinal right fielder roped a pitch over the right field wall for his third career grand slam for a 9-5 edge.
Plasencia walked to open the eighth and scored on a double by Haley. Cates reached on a two-base error that scored Haley, and scored on a single by Jurich.
Braun walked, and Burton singled home Jurich before Howes walked to again load the bases. Plasencia doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases, and eventually scored on a second RBI single by Jurich in the inning to close the scoring.
Chase Cruse (1-0) entered in the third and earned the win, tossing five innings of six-hit ball. He walked two and fanned two, giving up an unearned run.
Starter Jon Harbridge allowed four runs, three of which were earned in 2.1 frames on seven hits and a walk, striking out three.
Skylar Meade closed things out retiring all five batters he faced, striking out two.
Marshall reliever Scott Henning took the loss, tossing two innings, including the ill-fated sixth, surrendering four runs on four hits.
With Haley's single in the sixth he has now hit safely in 15 straight games.
Haley, Burton and Plasencia each had two hits, while Cates, Jurich and Plasencia each scored three runs.
Jurich is now alone in 10th in U of L history with 189 hits with his four on the afternoon.
McKinnon was the last Cardinal to hit a grand slam, driving one to center in the Cards' 19-6 win over San Diego State on February 21st.
The Cardinal Nine, currently tied for first in C-USA, will resume conference play hosting the Memphis Tigers for a three-game series over the weekend. Game one will be Friday at Cardinal Stadium with first pitch at 6:00 p.m. Admission and parking is free.
