University of Louisville
SOUTHERN MISS *
Cards Win Seesaw Battle With Southern Miss 6-5
May 01, 2005 | Baseball
May. 1, 2005
LOUISVILLE, KY - A bases-loaded walk to Logan Johnson in the bottom of the eighth pushed across the game-winning run as the University of Louisville defeated Southern Miss 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Patterson Stadium.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second when Boomer Whiting's RBI single plated Greg Taylor, who had singled.
A solo home run by Jason Lowery opened the USM (31-13, 13-8 C-USA) fourth and tied the game at one.
Ryan McKinnon and Taylor drew back-to-back walks in the fourth, and after a sac bunt by Chris Cates moved them over, Whiting's double plated them both for a 3-1 Louisville (23-18, 10-10 C-USA) lead.
The Golden Eagles struck for three in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead on RBI hits by David Steele, Beau Griffin and Jody Blount.
Cates scored on a sacrifice fly by J.T. LaFountain in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at four.
In the seventh, Isaiah Howes hammered an 0-2 pitch to right center for his first home run of the season and a 5-4 Cardinal advantage. Howes ended the day with two doubles to go with his home run.
Steele lead off the USM eighth with a double and eventually scored on an error to tie the game at five, before the Cards plated the winner.
In the Cardinal eighth, Nick Haley was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double to left by LaFountain. Jorge Castillo walked to load the bases, and Johnson watched four straight out of the zone for the game-winner.
Brian Halford hit a batter and allowed a single to open the ninth, but picked up a double-play ground ball and retired Lowery on a ground ball to earn his fifth save of the season, the ninth-highest total in U of L history. It was his 12th career save, good for a fourth place tie all-time.
Griffin Bailey improved to 3-1 with the win, allowing an unearned run on three hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.
Cardinal starter Scott Jenkins gave up three runs on five hits and three walks in 5.1 innings, striking out five. Jon Harbridge allowed a run on two hits without retiring an out.
Southern Miss sent six pitchers to the hill, with Lowery(0-1) taking the loss, as he surrendered the game winner on a hit without retiring a batter in his first career appearance.
LaFountain, Taylor, Cates and Whiting joined Howes with multi-hit efforts, with Whiting driving in three on the afternoon. LaFountain's double was his 46th of his career, tying him with Matt Berger in fifth all-time at Louisville.
Louisville will host Wright State on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET, in a game that was originally scheduled to be played on March 8th, but was postponed due to weather. Admission is free at Jim Patterson Stadium. The Cards will then head to Charlotte for three against the 49ers over the weekend.
