University of Louisville
<B>EVANSVILLE</B>
Cardinal Nine 'Cruses' to 12-3 Win
April 20, 2004 | Baseball
April 20, 2004
LOUISVILLE, KY - Junior Chase Cruse breezed through seven innings and the University of Louisville exploded for seven runs in the fifth to put away Evansville 12-3 in baseball action Tuesday.
Cruse(3-0) allowed two runs, just one of which was earned, scattering three hits and five walks and striking out five to earn the win.
Aces leadoff man Cody Strait walked to open the ballgame and after stealing second an third, he scored on a groundout by Pat Tumilty for a 1-0 UE lead.
The Aces(18-20) plated an unearned run in the second to go up 2-0.
In the Cardinal half of the fourth, Daniel Burton roped a ground-rule double to center and after a walk to Isaiah Howes, Logan Johnson doubled home Burton.
Luis Pardo walked to load the bases, and with two out, senior Mark Jurich singled home a pair of runs to give the Cards a 3-2 lead.
The fifth inning outburst began with a one-out solo home run to right by third baseman Ryan McKinnon, his fifth on the season, that made it 4-2.
Consecutive singles by Howes and Johnson put runners at first and third. Howes then scored on a wild pitch as walks to Pardo and Boomer Whiting walked to load the bases.
Jurich stepped to the plate and reached on catcher's interference, picking up his third RBI on the day.
Chris Cates followed with a single that scored Pardo, and with the bases still loaded, Braun unloaded a deep drive to left center that was dropped by Jeff Fontaine, clearing the bases, putting Braun at third and making it 10-2 Cards.
Pardo opened up the seventh, driving a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right for his second home run of the season and an 11-2 lead.
In the eighth, sophomore Logan Snyder ripped a pinch-hit double down the line in left in his first at-bat of the season. Howes followed with a ground-rule double to center, scoring Snyder.
Evansville completed the scoring with Heath Hamilton's RBI triple in the ninth.
Steve Ayers tossed the final two frames for the Cardinals(20-16), allowing a run on two hits.
Evansville starter Ken Smith (0-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. He fanned three.
Cates lead the Cardinal's 14 hit attack with a 3 for 5 effort. Howes, Johnson and Whiting each had two hits, while Howes, Johnson and Pardo all scored twice.
The Cardinals will host Xavier on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. ET in Cardinal Stadium. Admission and parking are free.
