University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International
Cajuns Fall To FIU in Series Opener
4/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, April 18, 2003
LAFAYETTE- Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team falls to Florida International 5-1 here at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field in the opening game of a three game Sun Belt series. UL Lafayette (15-25) drops to 6-7 in conference play, while FIU (29-12) remains in first place with a 7-3 record.
Louisiana-Lafayette sophomore right-hander Kevin Ardoin made the start against FIU ace right-hander Joshua Banks. Ardoin (2-4) lasted 7 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, while striking out nine in the loss.
Florida International scored first in the second inning when right fielder Yahmed Yema singled home Ricardo Nanita from second to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
The Cajuns tied the game in the third inning after Dallas Morris tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Corey Coles. Morris's run would be the only Cajun run of the night as Banks and FIU closer Edgar Ramirez held the Cajuns to just four hits on the night.
The Golden Panthers scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead after FIU shortstop Luis Rivera drove home both runs with a two-out single to left field off Ardoin.
FIU added one run off Ardoin in each the sixth and eighth innings to take a four run lead at 5-1. Kraig Schambough pitched the final two innings in relief of Ardoin after coming in with two outs in the eighth inning.
Ardoin (2-4) suffers his fourth loss of the season on the mound for the Cajuns. Banks (8-1) picks up his eighth win after striking out ten Cajun hitters in seven full innings and allowing just one run on four hits. FIU closer Edgar Ramirez picks up his seventh save of the year for the Panthers after holding the Cajuns hitless in the final two innings.
Third baseman Dallas Morris batted 2 for 4 on the night and was the only Cajun hitter with multiple hits. FIU shortstop Luis Rivera and outfielder Yahmed Yema led the Panther offense with two RBI's each.
UL Lafayette falls to 15-25 overall on the season and 6-7 in the Sun Belt. Game two against Florida International will resume tomorrow at 2 pm. Junior right-hander Jordy Templet (4-3, 3.55 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Cajuns against FIU right-hander Andrew Edwards (0-2, 3.86 ERA).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
