University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
HILLTOPPERS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN IN SBC TOURNAMENT WIN OVER
5/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HILLTOPPERS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN IN SBC TOURNAMENT WIN OVER
CAJUNS...May 17, 2000
MOBILE, Ala. – Western Kentucky avenged a three-game sweep earlier
in the season by pounding out 12 hits and taking an 8-3 win over Louisiana's
Ragin' Cajuns in opening round action of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Wednesday
at South Alabama's Stanky Field.
WKU's Matt Fox went 3-for-5, including his first home of the
season, and collected three RBIs with two runs. Hilltopper starter Ryan Hutchinson
(9-3) went the distance, allowing just two runs while striking out seven.
The Hilltoppers (24-33) advance to a winner's bracket contest with
Florida International – a 6-5 winner over Louisiana Tech in the day's
first game. The Cajuns (39-16) will meet La. Tech at 10 a.m. Thursday in an elimination
game.
The Cajuns had plenty of opportunities, rapping out 11 hits. But 10 of
the hits were singles, and Louisiana-Lafayette stranded nine runners.
“We're not a good baseball team right now,” said Cajun
head coach Tony Robichaux, whose team swept a three-game set from the Toppers four
weeks ago in Lafayette. “We are not having any fun out there, and the only way
to do that is to start winning games. We will find out what we are made of
(Thursday).”
WKU quickly jumped in front on an RBI single from Jeff Vance in the top
of the first. The Toppers had runners on first and third with no outs in the inning. But
the Cajuns got out of the frame without any further damage, keyed by an inning-ending
double play.
The Cajuns took the lead in their half of the second. After loading the
bases with no outs, WKU got a double play – retiring the runner at home and first.
However, the Cajuns' Steven Feehan ripped a two-run, two-out single and plated Jess
Poche and Rick Haydel.
WKU, though, tied the game in the third and chased Louisiana-Lafayette
starter Scott Dohmann (10-5) in the fourth. The Toppers broke the game open in the middle
frames, keyed by a three-run home run from Fox. The round-tripper was Fox's first of
the year.
One key for WKU was that the leadoff man reached base in eight of the
nine innings. Hutchinson, meanwhile, did the rest – as the junior enjoyed his seventh
complete game. The Indiana native threw 156 pitches.
“Give (Hutchinson) credit,” said Feehan, who finished 1-for-5
with two RBIs. “He did a good job of getting ahead. We just have to come back and be
physical at the plate.”
Friday, June 12
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 12
Monday, May 11
