CAJUNS XXX?April 10, 2002
4/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CAJUNS SUFFER LATE-INNING LOSS TO ULM
April 10, 2002
?MONROE – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns had a tough seventh inning, and the umpires did not help as host-UL Monroe scored three runs in the key frame to take a 7-6 win Wednesday night at Indian Field.
?The Cajuns (22-12) made three errors in the seventh inning, and ULM (15-19) took advantage of six Cajun walks overall en route to its fourth consecutive triumph over UL Lafayette.
The game was certainly decided in the seventh. With the game tied at 4-4, ULM right fielder Jerad Doty provided a two-out, RBI single and came around to score thanks to two Cajun errors. The single took place one pitch after it appeared the junior went around on a two-strike hurl.
But the umpires, consisting of just a two-man crew, did not agree he swung to give Doty new life. The Cajuns could have avoided the situation but struggled defensively. A dropped pop-up by shortstop Chase Lambin started the inning and the staff's sixth walk provided the other baserunner.
After Doty's hit plated Ted White, catcher Mike Kabel tried to get Doty at second. But the throw went into centerfield – allowing Ben Jones to score. The bottom fell out when center fielder Corey Coles' throw to third went into the Cajun dugout – plating Doty.
The inning spoiled a strong performance by Cajun reliever Kevin Ardoin. Ardoin (2-1) went three innings and gave up just one hit while striking out one. Offensively, meanwhile, Lambin led the way with two RBI doubles. Outfielder Bryan Sneed went 2-for-5, extending his career-best hitting streak to nine games.
The Cajuns did put a rally together in the ninth. Lambin laced an RBI double to right – scoring Scott Carboni – and the squad had the tying run on third with two outs. But ULM reliever Lee Graves got Sneed .
Louisiana-Lafayette had 10 hits on the night. ULM, which had only five hits, was paced by Jason Lind's 2-for-4 evening -- including a two-run home run. Lind also started the game on the mound and hurled three scoreless innings.
?The Cajuns will get back into Sun Belt Conference action this weekend, beginning a three-game set with Arkansas-Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE---
