The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisville
Baseball Loses A Tough One At Louisville Friday
5/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Third baseman Mike Budak drove in the winning runs with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and starting pitcher Josh Ring allowed three runs in eight innings as Louisville defeated UAB 5-3 Friday in the first game of a Conference USA series at Cardinal Stadium.
The Cardinals (33-13, 17-8 C-USA) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as center fielder Dave Williams, Jr., beat out a ground ball to the right side of the infield with two out and the bases loaded, scoring designated hitter Ken Tirpak from third and catcher Fernando Isa on an error by UAB pitcher Jon Burgett.
The score remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth, when UAB tied the game on back-to-back solo home runs by designated hitter Joe Yarbrough and third baseman Matt Gaulden, both to right center field.
UAB (15-35, 6-19 C-USA) had numerous chances to score early in the game, but was unable to get the runs across, leaving nine men on base through the first six innings. The Blazers had runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth (after the home runs by Yarbrough and Gaulden), none of which scored.
Louisville took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth as the leadoff hitter, left fielder Josh Bolen, reached on a throwing error by UAB second baseman Seth Rollin and then scored as Budak slammed a two-run shot to right center off Burgett.
The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh as Bolen drove in shortstop J.T. LaFountain with a double down the left field line off UAB's Yarbrough, who came in to relieve Burgett in the sixth.
UAB's Rollin homered to left center field with one out in the eighth for UAB's third run of the game.
Cardinal starter Ring (7-3) worked eight complete innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with four walks and eight strikeouts. All three of the runs he allowed came on home runs. Reliever Carlos Fernandez worked the ninth inning to earn his third save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
UAB's Burgett (1-3) worked five complete innings, allowing four runs on five hits, with three walks and a strikeout. Yarbrough worked three innings, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and a strikeout.
Game two of the three-game series between the Blazers and Cardinals is set for 1:00 pm EDT Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.
