University of Louisville
<B>HOUSTON</B> * (Pom Pom Giveaways)
Cardinal Nine Senior Day Foiled By Houston
May 16, 2004 | Baseball
May 16, 2004
LOUISVILLE, KY - Houston's Rob Johnson hit two home runs and drove in five, giving the Cougars an 8-4 win, and spoiling the University of Louisville's Senior Day on Sunday.
It was the last home game at Cardinal Stadium for U of L(23-28, 10-17), who will open up Patterson Field in the spring of 2005.
A solo home run by Houston's Cole Bruce opened the second inning and gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Cardinal freshman Logan Johnson cracked a solo home run to right leading off the fifth, his fourth of the season to even the game at one.
An out later, Boomer Whiting and Mark Jurich walked and Chris Cates singled to load the bases.
After Nick Haley grounded into a fielder's choice, Ron Braun singled home a pair to give the Cards a 3-1 advantage. Ryan McKinnon walked and an infield single by Daniel Burton made it 4-1 Cards.
Johnson hit the first of his two home runs in the sixth, a two-run shot that cut the lead to one.
In the eighth Thanos Papavasiliou doubled in a run and Johnson followed an out later with a three-run home run to cap the four-run inning and give the Cougars a 7-4 lead.
A solo home run by Patrick Gaylord to open the ninth capped the scoring.
Houston reliever Rickey Putman(1-0) was the winner, fanning one in two perfect innings. Brandon Roznovsky notched save number seven, allowing a run and a walk to go with a strikeout in two innings.
Cardinal senior Mike Tisdale, returning just two weeks after injuring his right knee, gave up just one run in five innings on three hits and a walk. He struck out three, but did not figure into the decision.
Justin Valdes(4-7) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work. He added four K's.
Griffin Bailey gave up a pair of runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, and Skylar Meade allowed a hit and struck out one in an inning for the Cards.
In a pregame ceremony, Jurich, Braun, Tisdale, Luis Pardo and Steve Ayers were honored along with student athletic trainer Phil Abshier as part of Senior Day.
Braun and Logan Johnson each had two hits for the Cards. Jurich hit his 54th career double, tying him for third all-time at U of L.
Louisville will head to Tampa to close out the regular season with three against South Florida beginning Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Cards are currently in ninth place, and the top eight will advance to the C-USA tournament.
