University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2003
TWO-RUN BOMBS CARRY MCNEESE PAST WICHITA
STATE
Dooley Prince
and Tommy Eubanks homer in third and fourth to secure win for the Cowboys
LAFAYETTE – A pair of two-run home runs and solid starting
pitching from Rusty Begnaud helped lead McNeese State to a 4-3 win over No. 19
Wichita State here Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2003 Mardi Gras
Ball Baseball Classic at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
After a pair of scoreless innings between the two teams,
McNeese State center fielder Dooley Prince hit a two-out two-run home run to
right center field in the top of the third to give the Cowboys a 2-0 lead.
Shortstop Lance Dawkins led off the inning with a double down the left field
line for MSU's first hit of the game.
The Cowboys (12-6) would increase the lead to 4-0 in their
next at bat right fielder Tommy Eubanks lined a two-run homer over the right
field wall.
Wichita State drew a run in the sixth inning on a Logan
Sorensen home run to right field
WSU (11-2) score two more runs in bottom of the seventh –
all with no outs chasing Begnaud from the game.
Cody Clark and Phil Napolitan led off the inning with
singles to put runners on first and second for the Shockers. Drew Moffitt drove
in a pair of runs with a double down the right field line and MSU led 4-2.
Begnaud was pulled in favor of Walter Nolen who retired the
side upon his arrival striking out Joe Muich and getting Nick Blasi to ground
into a 5-4-3 double play to end the Shockers threat.
Nolen would finish the game earning his second save of the
game. McNeese State won its fourth straight game and takes the early lead in the
running for the tournament championship.
Wichita State, which appeared in the 2001 Mardi Gras Ball,
dropped to 1-3 all-time in the classic.
It was the first meeting all-time between the two teams.
Mathew Jakubov suffered his second loss of the season
tossing four innings allowing four runs (all earned). Reuben Kerbs did an
excellent job in relief, going the final five innings allowing just two hits
while striking out 10 batters.
McNeese State will face Ohio State Saturday, March 8 at 2
p.m. Wichita State will face host-UL Lafayette in the nightcap on Saturday at
6:30 p.m.
-- Mardi Gras Ball Baseball Classics --
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