Ragin? Cajun News

4/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

CAJUNS SWEEP AGGIES IN EXTRAS

April 21, 2002

?LAFAYETTE – It took a little more work than they wanted, but Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns finally got a Sun Belt Conference sweep.

?First baseman Phillip Hawke was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the 10th, and the plunk allowed the winning run to score as UL Lafayette (27-14, 9-3 SBC) took a 7-6 win over New Mexico State (27-16, 4-8 SBC) Sunday at "Tigue" Moore Field.

?Jason Wilson crossed the plate and gave the Cajuns their first sweep of the SBC season. The run also got the Cajun bullpen off the hook.

?UL Lafayette had a 4-1 lead after seven innings, but the Aggies battled back to score five runs in the next three frames -- including two in the ninth -- to force extras. It also spoiled a solid outing by Cajun starter Corey Coles, who went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs.

?The Aggie offense, which was quiet virtually all weekend, finally got to Cajun closer Kevin Ardoin -- who was going for his fourth save of the season and second in three days.

?NMSU got three straight hits off Ardoin to start the ninth, which cut the Cajun lead to 6-5. The Aggies had the potential go-ahead run on second with no outs, but reliever Kraig Shambough came on to retire the next three hitters. The first, a sacrifice fly by Beau Blacken, plated Hal Bisnett to tie it up.

?In the 10th, however, UL Lafayette got the frame going when pinch hitter Doug Vicknair tripled to right. But NMSU pitcher Justin Brown (2-1) seemed like he would he get out of the jam. After intentionally walking Chase Lambin, Brown got Wilson to ground into a fielder's choice -- retiring Lambin at second.

?Kevin Preau followed with a hard grounder to NMSU second baseman Mike Sopo, who threw out Vicknair at the plate. The Aggies decided to intentionally walk Coles with two outs -- loading the bases.

?After working a 2-2 count to Hawke, Brown's inside curve nicked Hawke and gave the Cajuns a sweep. It also marked the eighth hit batter of the contest.

?The two teams combined to strand 25 runners, but NMSU did have 12 hits. David Licini went 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Bisnet and Erik Winegarden each went 2-for-5. Winegarden also added his second home run of the series.

?The Cajuns, who had just three hits Saturday, got nine hits in the finale. Wilson and Justin Bouque each tallied two hits and an RBI.

?Shambough (1-1) got the decision after two scoreless innings of work.

--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE--