University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Western Kentucky
Gros Tosses Shutout To Even Series Against Western Kentucky
3/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Saturday, March 22, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ky - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team evens the series against Western Kentucky here at Nick Denes Field with a 1-0 win. The Cajuns improve to 1-1 in the Sun Belt and 7-19 overall on the season.
Senior left-hander Andy Gros received the start on the hill for the Cajuns on his 22nd birthday against junior right-hander Andy Baldwin of Western Kentucky.
Gros kept the Hilltoppers off balance the entire game and at one point retired eight consecutive hitters. Western Kentucky managed just six hits against Gros on the day and struck out eight times.
Entering the eighth inning Gros had faced just two batters over the minimum. The Hilltoppers threatened in the eighth after a one-out single by Hilltopper shortstop Travis Brown. Brown advanced to second on a two-out single by Western Kentucky center fielder Rafael Vallejo. Gros got the next batter to ground out to end the Hilltopper threat in the eighth.
Left fielder Bryan Sneed opened the ninth inning with a leadoff walk for the Cajuns. Junior Kevin Preau came in to pinch run for Sneed. Preau advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Phillip Hawke to give the Cajuns a runner in scoring position with just one out. With one out Hilltopper reliever Matt Wilhite came on in relief of Baldwin.
Preau moved over to third after designated hitter Rhett Buras flied out to deep center field. The Cajuns scored the eventual winning run on a two-out infield single by second baseman Brad Saloom that scored Preau from third.
The final line on Baldwin read 8 1/3 innings pitched, one run allowed on four Cajun hits, while striking out a season high seven batters and walking two.
Western Kentucky first baseman Matt Gunning led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left field. Michael Wilhite came in the game to pinch run for Gunning. Wilhite advanced to second on a ground out by third baseman Tim Grogan to put a Hilltopper runner in scoring position with the winning run at the plate. Gros proceeded to shut the door by striking out the final two batters to preserve his first shutout of the season and third of his career.
Gros pitched nine complete innings, allowing just six Hilltopper hits, while striking out six and walking just one. He also picked off two Western Kentucky base runners at first. Gros improves to 2-4 overall on the season with the complete game win, while Western Kentucky starter Andy Baldwin drops to 1-4 with the loss.
Junior second baseman Brad Saloom led the Cajuns offensively going 3 for 4 on the day with the game winning RBI in the final inning.
UL Lafayette picks up their first Sun Belt conference win of the year and will go for the series win in game three tomorrow at 1 p.m. Jordy Templet (2-2, 2.18 ERA) will get the start for the Cajuns against Western Kentucky left-hander Kenny Hughes (1-1, 3.68 ERA).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
