University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Illinois - Chicago
Cajuns Drop Ninth Straight in 11-4 Loss
3/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE- Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team drops their ninth straight game and fourth straight at home in an 11-4 loss to the Illinois-Chicago Flames. The Cajuns drop to 5-16 on the season and continue to search for their first win in the month of March this year.
Illinois-Chicago starter Ryan Gehring (1-1) held the Cajuns to four runs (three earned) on ten hits through all nine innings for the complete game. Gehring struck out six Cajun batters and walked two for the win.
The Flames scored two runs in the first and added one more in the second inning off UL Lafayette starter Kevin Ardoin to take an early 3-0 lead over the Cajuns. It was Ardoin's first start of the season after making ten previous appearances in relief.
UL Lafayette tied the score with a three run inning in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Justin Morgan scored on a wild pitch and third baseman Dallas Morris drove in another run on a perfect bunt single towards first base. Morris scored the final Cajun run of the inning on a fielder's choice off the bat of second baseman Sport Voorhies to tie the game 3-3.
Illinois-Chicago scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning off Ardoin when UIC right fielder Mike Hughes scored from third on a RBI single by Flames third baseman Nelson Gord.
The Flames put the game away by scoring a combined seven runs in the next two innings to take an 11-3 lead after eight innings of play. Kevin Ardoin left the game with no outs in the seventh inning. The final line on Ardoin read six innings pitched, seven runs (five earned) on ten hits and five strikeouts.
The Cajuns picked up a final run in the bottom of the ninth when Corey Coles scored from third on a groundout to make the final score 11-4.
Illinois-Chicago (1-6) picked up 18 hits on the night against Cajun pitching in route to their first win of the season. Center fielder J.P. Moran led his team offensively with three RBI and two runs scored on two hits in the win.
The Cajuns fall to 4-1 all-time against Illinois-Chicago and will try to break the losing streak as the series continues with game two Saturday at 2 p.m. here at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. UL Lafayette left-hander Andy Gros (1-3, 5.40 ERA) will get the start against David Haehnel (0-0, 9.53 ERA) of Illinois-Chicago.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
