University of Louisville
<B>KENT STATE</B> (Game One(7))
Cardinal Nine Splits Doubleheader
March 07, 2004 | Baseball
March 7, 2004
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University of Louisville baseball team exploded for a seven-run fourth inning, lifting them to a 10-1 win over Kent State in the nightcap Sunday, to split a doubleheader. U of L was edged 3-2 in game one.
The first game was a pitcher's duel between Kent's Jason Brunke and Louisville freshman Justin Valdes.
Louisville(4-6) got on the board first when Daniel Burton singled up the middle and Ryan McKinnon came around from second to score, making it 1-0 U of L in the second.
Back-to-back single by the Golden Flashes(4-7) in the third lead to an unearned run that tied the game at one, and a solo home run to right in the fourth by Matt Sega put Kent up 2-1.
The Cards tied it up in the sixth when catcher Ron Braun roped a triple to the gap in left and scored on a wild pitch, but a solo home run by Chad Kinyon in the seventh was the difference.
Valdes(1-2) took the hard-luck loss, going the distance in the seven-inning affair, allowing three runs, two of which were earned on four hits. He did not walk a man, and struck out a career-high eight.
He was bettered by Brunke(1-1) who gave up two runs on three hits and a walk, fanning five and going the route for the win.
Mark Jurich was 1 for 2 with a walk and two steals in the loss for the Cards.
The Cards again got on the board first in game two on a solo home run by left fielder Danny Plasencia to lead off the third.
The fourth started with back-to-back singles by Braun and McKinnon. One out later, catcher Luis Pardo walked to load the bases.
First baseman Adam Mallette, in his first career start walked, forcing home a run, and Plasencia followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Cards.
A wild pitch scored Pardo and walks to Nick Haley and Logan Johnson pushed home another run and kept the bases loaded.
With two out Braun tripled for the second time on the day, clearing the bases and capping the seven-run frame for an 8-0 advantage.
In the sixth, Kinyon singled home Sega to put KSU on the board, but the Cardinal Nine answered with Burton's first home run of his career, a two-run line drive to right to close the scoring.
Cardinal freshman B.J. Rosenberg (1-0) was strong in his first career start, allowing just one run in seven innings of work. He scattered five hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Fellow freshman Scott Jenkins tossed the final two frames allowing three hits and adding three K's.
Kent starter Evan Smith (0-1) took the loss and was one of five KSU pitchers in game two of the twin bill.
Plasencia and Braun each had a pair of hits in game two.
Louisville will next host Morehead State at Cardinal Stadium on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Admission at Cardinal Stadium is free at all Cardinal home games.
