April 2, 2004

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- - Shortstop Brent Dlugach smashed two of Memphis' four home runs, while Jarrett Grube gave up just one earned run in seven and two-thirds inning as the Tigers defeated Louisville 11-7 in conference action Friday night at Cardinal Stadium. The win snaps the Tigers' three-game losing skid and improves them to 13-10 overall and 2-5 in Conference USA play.

Memphis became a beneficiary of the short porch in rightfield to post four runs in the second inning on a pair of Tiger homers from Dlugach and Chad House. Dlugach gave the Tigers a 1-0 advantage with his second homer of the season on a line drive that carried into the rightfield stands. After Kurt Welch's single and a walk by Kyle Scott, House also took advantage of the short field in right by blasting his first round tripper of the year on a three-run shot for a 4-0 Memphis lead.

Louisville closed the gap to 4-3 after leadoff hitter Nick Haley drew a one-walk and advanced to second when Tiger first baseman Adam Amar was unable to handle and errant throw from third baseman Michael Lewis on a groundball by Boomer Whiting. An RBI double to the rightfield corner by Ron Braun scored Haley to cut the deficit to 4-1. Ryan McKinnon followed with a single up the middle to bring home Whiting and Braun.

Lewis brought home the Tiger's fifth run of the night in the top of the fourth inning when he belted a two-out double to left centerfield to score Scott, who reached on a walk.

Dlugach added his second homer in the fifth and Jordan Hart lined the Tiger's final round tripper of the night into the rightfield bleachers as part of a two-run sixth to give Memphis an 8-3 lead.

Memphis added a run in the seventh and two in the eighth before holding off a three-run ninth-inning Cardinal rally to claim the 11-7 win.

Grube picked up his fifth win of the season and struck out seven, while Uof L starter Justin Valdez took the loss after giving up six earned runs in four and two-thirds innings.

The Tigers and Cardinals will play Game Two of the series on Saturday at Noon. The game will be broadcast live locally on WUMR 91.7.