University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
Cajuns Defeat ASU in Extra Inning Thriller
5/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Saturday, May 10, 2003
JONESBORO, Ark. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team wins game two against Arkansas State with a thrilling 13-8 come from behind extra-inning victory. The Cajuns scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie the game and broke through with five runs in the tenth to win their fourth game in a row. UL Lafayette (26-26) gets to the .500 mark on the season and improves to 13-7 in the Sun Belt, while Arkansas State (22-26) falls to 8-11 in the conference.
Louisiana-Lafayette junior left-handed starter Jordy Templet (6-4) threw six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and four strikeouts in the no decision. Sophomore reliever and Lafayette, La., native Thad Montgomery (1-0) picked up his first career victory at UL Lafayette by holding the Indians scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings. Montgomery allowed just two hits with a strikeout and no walks to pick up the win.
Arkansas State went ahead 1-0 on a RBI double by first baseman Dusty Sexton in the first inning before the Cajuns responded with two runs in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Wilson doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a Corey Coles triple to right center field. It was the sixth triple of the year for the speedy Coles. Coles scored the second run of the inning on an Indian infield error that gave the Cajuns a one run lead.
UL Lafayette increased the lead to four runs at 5-1 with a three run sixth inning. Dallas Morris and Bryan Seed hit RBI singles and Phillip Hawke added a run scoring double to extend the lead.
Arkansas State starting pitcher John Anderson left the game with two outs in the sixth inning. Anderson would eventually get a no decision after giving up five runs (one earned) on nine Cajun hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
With the Cajuns in front 5-1, Arkansas State rallied to take the lead after a huge seven run seventh inning. The Indians scored seven runs on seven hits against four different Cajun pitchers. Templet left the game after giving up three consecutive singles to score a run with no outs in the inning. ASU added two runs against Cajun reliever Jeff Martinez and two more against Kraig Schambough. A two run double by ASU second baseman George Sterner highlighted the inning for the Indians. After a RBI double by Brad Hayes reliever Thad Montgomery got designated hitter Monte Douglas to ground out to end the inning with the Cajuns trailing 8-5.
The Cajuns responded with a three run rally to tie the game in the top half of the eighth inning. Dallas Morris scored the first run with the bases loaded on an ASU infield error after drawing a one-out walk and two consecutive singles by Corey Coles and Bryan Sneed. With two outs Cajun catcher Ryan Core hit a bases loaded single to left field that scored two runs to tie the game at 8-8.
The game remained tied until the Ragin' Cajuns rallied for five runs in the top of the tenth inning to take a 13-8 lead. The Cajuns scored five runs off three hits and two Indian errors after loading the bases with just one out in the inning. Corey Coles scored the go ahead run after Ryan Core was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A walk to Brad Saloom scored another run and shortstop Ray Dees hit a two-out single that scored two more runs. Jason Wilson scored the final Cajun run on the second ASU infield error of the inning after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Montgomery held Arkansas State scoreless for the third consecutive inning to pick up the win and move the Cajuns just one game back of first place in the conference race.
Ryan Hamilton (3-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits in two innings of relief for the Indians.
Sophomore first baseman Phillip Hawke had two RBI's on three hits and junior catcher Ryan Core drove in three runs on one hit to help lead the Cajuns offensively. Corey Coles scored three runs on three hits to give him 51 runs scored on the season. Dees, Morris, and Sneed each added two hits for a Cajun offense that combined for 15 hits on the day.
UL Lafayette will go for their second conference sweep in a row tomorrow with a 1 p.m. start at Tomlinson Stadium. Senior left-hander Andy Gros (5-6, 4.17 ERA) will go for his fourth straight win against Arkansas State right-hander Karnie Vertz (4-5, 4.52 ERA).
-Ragin' Cajuns-
