University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Cardinals Win Offensive Battle, 11-9
4/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Cardinals Win Offensive Battle, 11-9
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Southern Miss and Louisville traded punches throughout nine innings, but in the end, it was the visiting Cardinals who delivered the knockout blows, winning an 11-9 Conference USA slugfest, Sunday, at Pete Taylor Park.
With the win, Louisville took the series two games to one, improving to 21-10 and 10-5 in league play. Southern Miss dropped to 24-13 overall and 10-5 in the conference. The Golden Eagles and Cardinals are now tied for second place in the league, behind TCU and Houston, who share the lead with 11-4 conference marks.
"Just like TCU, Louisville is a real fine offensive team," Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "They are a good all-around baseball team."
Louisville scored 11 runs on 18 hits, four of which were home runs, while Southern Miss tallied nine runs on 13 hits. The Cardinals' home run and hit totals were the most given up by the Golden Eagles this season.
Both teams dueled to a 1-1 tie after one inning, with Louisville scoring its run on an RBI-groundout to score Adam Haley. The Golden Eagles tallied their score on Jeff Cook's solo home run to left center field.
The Cardinals added four more runs in the third inning, including a two-run homer by Josh Bolen.
Southern Miss answered, however, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning on Cook's two-run double, scoring Matt Shepherd and Allen Winningham.
Louisville pushed the lead further, adding a pair of runs in the fourth inning. J. T. LaFountain lined a two-RBI single to right field, plating Dave Williams, Jr., and Mike Budak in the process.
The Golden Eagles inched closer with a pair of runs of their own, one on an RBI-single by Matt Shepherd and the other on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Velasquez. Southern Miss nearly added two more runs in the inning, as Winningham blasted a seemingly sure home run to left center field. However, the scores were to be denied as Williams made a spectacular catch, snagging the ball as it was leaving the park, keeping the score, 7-6.
Southern Miss eventually took the lead over the next two innings, scoring three runs for the 9-7 advantage.
Louisville did not score again until the eighth inning, when it scored three runs on four hits, two of which were home runs. The Cardinals put the final nail in the coffin with their fourth home run of the game, a solo shot in the ninth inning.
Griff Israel led Southern Miss with three hits, while Cook, Jason Lowery and Shepherd had two hits apiece. Cook kept his hitting streak alive, extending it to 15 games.
Anthony Dewitt (1-4) took the loss on the mound, allowing two runs on three hits in the final 1.1 innings. Starter Charlie Rogers threw 3.1 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits. Cliff Russum also saw action on the mound, allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
Carlos De la Osa had four hits to lead Louisville, while Haley, LaFountain and Bolen added three hits each.
Carlos Fernandez (3-1) picked up the win for the Cardinals, throwing three scoreless innings with just two hits allowed. Grant Williams picked up the save. Zach Jackson started the game, giving up four runs on three hits in 2.2 innings. Josh Ring and Garrett Estabrook also pitched in the game, combining for five runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings.
Southern Miss hosts Mississippi State in a two-game series, Tuesday and Wednesday, at Pete Taylor Park. Both games are set for 6:30 p.m.
