University of Louisville
EAST CAROLINA *
Cards Edged by Pirates 9-8 Saturday
April 16, 2005 | Baseball
April 16, 2005
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University of Louisville baseball team was edged by East Carolina 9-8 on Saturday at Jim Patterson Stadium.
A rough first inning for the Cards(17-14, 7-6 C-USA) saw the Pirates plate five runs on five hits after the first two of the inning were retired.
Boomer Whiting was hit by a pitch to open the Cardinal first and eventually scored on an error to cut the lead to 5-1.
The Pirates' Brian Cavanaugh doubled and later scored on a Mike Grace sacrifice fly to up the ECU(20-13, 6-8 C-USA) advantage to 6-1 in the second.
In the U of L fourth, the Cardinals rallied for three unearned runs with two away to make it 6-4. Logan Johnson singled and Ryan McKinnon reached on an error. Senior Greg Taylor then cleared the bases with a triple to right center, and scored on a double by Chris Cates.
Adam Witter's solo home run to left, the first at the new facility made it 7-4 in the fifth, but the Cards got the run back in the bottom of the inning Isaiah Howes doubled home Nick Haley, who had singled to lead off the frame, putting it back to a two-run deficit.
The Pirates gave themselves some insurance in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Jake </~nbsp>Smith and Ryan Peisel for a 9-5 lead.
Louisville rallied in the eighth with a leadoff single by Johnson, McKinnon was hit by a pitch and Taylor walked to load the bases. Cates then singled up the middle, scoring two to cut the lead to 9-7. Whiting reached on a bunt single and Haley's fielder's choice made it 9-8.
Howes opened the bottom of the ninth with a double, but was stranded at third to end the game.
Justin Vades (1-4) was chased in the second, allowing six runs on six hits and a walk in an inning plus while taking the loss. Scott Jenkins established a new career-high in innings pitched with 5.2 strong innings of relief, surrendering three runs on six hits and two walks while fanning two.
Griffin Bailey allowed a hit and a walk, striking out one in an inning and two-thirds, while Brian Halford retired the only two batters he faced.
ECU starter T.J. Hose (2-3) picked up the win, lasting seven-plus, and giving up seven runs, three of which were earned on seven hits and three walks. He struck out six. Scott Andrews gave up a hit and struck out three in two innings to pick up his first save of the season.
Howes, Johnson and Cates each had two hits for the Cards, with Cates equalling his career-best with three RBI on the afternoon.
Louisville will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Patterson Stadium, admission is free.
