University of Louisville
</i>@Houston *</i>
Cards Thump Cougars 10-6, Win Weekend Series
April 10, 2005 | Baseball
April 10, 2005
HOUSTON, TX - Ryan McKinnon's three-run home run gave the University of Louisville a 5-2 lead in the third, and the Cards held on to defeat Houston 10-6 on Sunday to win the weekend series two games to one.
Houston (14-18, 6-5 C-USA) plated two runs in the bottom of the first for the third time in as many games in the series, as Kori Williams drove in two on a single to right to make it 2-0 Houston.
Boomer Whiting singled to center to open the Louisville (17-11, 7-4 C-USA) third and running on a 3-2 pitch to Nick Haley, Whiting scored when Haley doubled to center to cut the lead to 2-1 Houston.
J.T. LaFountain was hit by a pitch and Jorge Castillo singled up the middle to plate Haley and tie the game at two, before McKinnon unloaded with his first home run of the season, a towering three-run shot on a payoff pitch to left, putting the Cards up 5-2.
In the Cardinal sixth, McKinnon was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Greg Taylor and Whiting followed with singles to load the bases.
Haley grounded into a fielder's choice to plate McKinnon, and LaFountain singled home two more to extended the U of L advantage to 8-2.
A pair of RBI singles plated Houston runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-4, but the Cards responded with two of their own in the ninth.
Whiting singled, stole second and scored on when Haley singled and an attempted throw to first got away. Haley then scored on a double play ground ball to put the Cardinal lead at 10-4.
Houston scored two runs on three hits in the ninth, but could get no closer.
Louisville starter B.J. Rosenberg (3-1) earned the win, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out six.
Jon Harbridge gave up two runs on four hits in an inning, striking out one. Mike Lynn allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth, fanning one, and Brian Halford tossed the ninth, giving up two runs on three hits.
Houston starter Kevin Roberts (3-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out two.
LaFountain made his first career start at catcher, and was 3 for 4 with two RBI at the plate. Whiting also had three hits, while Haley was 2 for 5 with two RBI and scored three times.
Louisville travels to Lexington to face Kentucky on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. before returning to Louisville to officially open Jim Patterson Stadium, the new multimillion dollar facility on the corner of Central and Third, on Friday at 6:00 p.m. against East Carolina.
