CAJUNS KNOCKED AROUND IN SBC TOURNEY LOSS TO ASU…May 22, 2002

CAJUNS KNOCKED AROUND IN SBC TOURNEY LOSS…May 22, 2002

MOBILE, Ala. – Arkansas State scored seven runs in the second inning, and starting pitcher Brad Thomas threw a gem as the seventh-seeded Indians upset second-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette 10-3 Wednesday in opening round action of the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Thomas, a junior left-hander, threw 174 pitches in hurling a complete-game seven-hitter. Thomas (5-3) gave up single runs in the first, second and fifth innings, struck out eight and walked five in just his second start of 2002. He got all the offense he needed when ASU (23-33) plated seven runs – six with two outs – to quickly break it open.

Nate Olson led the Indians' offense by going 3-for-6 with three RBIs. Blake Denischuk added two hits and three RBIs, as ASU notched 18 hits – the most the Cajuns have allowed all year. The Cajuns (37-20) were led offensively by Brad Saloom, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Andy Gros (10-4) got the loss for UL Lafayette. The Cajuns will now play an elimination game against No. 3 seed Western Kentucky, a 6-0 loser to New Mexico State. WKU will put SBC Pitcher of the Year Ryan Bicondoa on the mound.

"We've obviously put ourselves in a difficult position having to face the league's best pitcher at 9:30 in the morning," said Cajun head coach Tony Robichaux. "But we have put ourselves in this position. Our system belief is to stay out of the three-run inning, and we gave up seven early. We are not a good enough team offensively to get out of that hole."

The Cajuns actually jumped ahead in the first when Saloom scored Scott Carboni with a two-out RBI single. But ASU roared back with back-to-back hits to start the second, including an RBI double by Ryan Corrigan in the second to tie it.

Then, with two outs, ASU exploded. Three straight hits, a walk and Denischuk's bases-loaded double scored three more runs and lifted ASU to a 7-1 advantage. Gros was pulled, and reliever Kraig Schambough ate 6 1/3 innings – giving up just two earned runs – to help the Cajuns escape further depletion of an injury-riddled pitching staff.

Danny McMurtry also threw an inning of scoreless relief.

With the win, ASU advanced to Thursday's 3:30 p.m. Thursday game with New Mexico State.

--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE--

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

CAJUNS KNOCKED AROUND IN SBC TOURNEY LOSS TO ASU…May 22, 2002

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