CAJUN BASEBALL RALLIES AGAIN TO TOP UCF?Feb

2/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

CAJUN BASEBALL RALLIES AGAIN TO TOP UCF Feb. 16, 2002

?LAFAYETTE – Louisiana-Lafayette senior left-hander Justin Gabriel was making his first start at "Tigue" Moore Field in more than a year Saturday. He never seemed to miss a beat.

?The All-American southpaw struck out a career-high 13 and saw his offense pull a late-inning rally as the Cajuns took a 6-3 win over Central Florida.

?Gabriel (1-0) went 7 2/3 innings, gave up six hits and gave up just one earned run during his second straight solid outing of the young season. Third baseman Robert Shelton (3-for-3) provided the offense, breaking a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a two-out grand slam to help the Cajuns (4-1) take their second consecutive contest over UCF (1-5).

?"You have to give credit to Justin," Cajun head coach Tony Robichaux said of Gabriel, who sat out last season due to suspension. "He gave our offense a chance. We kept getting guys out there, but we just couldn't get the big lick. But Robert stepped up and did it for us."

?The Cajuns fell behind early for the second straight day. UCF scored two runs in the second thanks to an error and a two-run single by Dee Brown.

?After leaving six runners on base in the first five innings, including two on third, the hosts finally got to UCF starter Mark Michael. Bryan Sneed led off the frame with a solo home run, and the Cajuns tied it on a Scott Carboni sacrifice fly.

?In the deciding seventh, the Cajuns got runners on second and third with one out after Kevin Preau singled and Corey Coles ripped a double. After an intentional walk to Sneed, UCF hurler Zach Sutton (0-1) struck out Justin Bourque before Shelton took a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall.

?After UCF cut the lead to 6-3, Robichaux went to reliever Jordy Templet. The sophomore calmly got a strikeout to end the inning and – after Clay Timpner reached second after an infield hit and error in the ninth – retired the next three to end the game.

?The Cajuns will try for the three-game sweep at 1 p.m. Sunday.

--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE--