University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Nicholls State
Buras Grand Slam Highlights 15 Run Victory Over Nicholls State
5/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team avenges an early season loss to Nicholls State by routing the Colonels 16-1 here at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. UL Lafayette (24-26) combined for 13 runs in the first two innings to put the game away early and has now won eight of their last nine games. Nicholls State falls to 21-26 on the season after giving up 18 hits to the Cajuns.
UL Lafayette left-handed starting pitcher Andy Gros picked up the win after giving up just one unearned run in three innings pitched with three strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Gros (5-6) was pre-set to go just three innings and picks up his third win in three starts. Cajun relievers Thad Montgomery, Jeff Martinez, Danny McMurtry, and Bubba Olivier combined to hold the Colonels scoreless for the remainder of the game on just five hits.
The Ragin' Cajuns offense jumped out of the gate early with a five run first inning that saw every hitter in the line-up come to the plate. Outfielders Bryan Sneed and Kevin Preau both hit first inning RBI doubles to score the first two runs of the game. Ryan Core followed with the third double of the inning to drive in two more runs and scored on a Rhett Buras ground out to make it 5-0 after just one inning of play.
Nicholls State scored their only run of the game following a Cajun infield error in the second inning on a two-out RBI single by catcher Scott Wearne to cut the Cajun lead to 5-1
The Cajuns responded by topping the five run first inning with an eight run second inning highlighted by a Rhett Buras grand slam that put the Cajuns in control. The grand slam came on a 3-2 count with two outs in the inning and gave Buras three homeruns on the year. Kevin Preau, Phillip Hawke, and Corey Coles all scored on the homerun by Buras. Dallas Morris added a double that scored one run and Corey Coles and Bryan Sneed both added RBI singles all with two outs to give the Cajuns a 13-1 lead.
Louisiana-Lafayette added two runs in the sixth inning and a final run in the eighth for the 16-1 victory. Phillip Hawke hit a two-out single in the sixth inning that scored both Corey Coles and Dallas Morris to increase the Cajun lead. Jason Wilson drove in Dallas Morris with the final run of the night on a one out double in the eighth inning. Morris scored five runs on the night after hitting in the leadoff spot.
Robby Hebert (3-6) suffers the loss for Nicholls State after giving up seven runs (six earned) on six hits in one inning pitched. The Cajun bats managed 18 hits on the night and batted around in both the first and second innings.
Designated hitter Rhett Buras led the Cajuns offensively with a second inning grand slam which gave him five RBI's on the night, making him the second consecutive Cajun player to get 5 RBI's in a single game following Kevin Preau's 5 RBI effort against Nebraska on Sunday. Sophomore first baseman Phillip Hawke drove in three runs after going 2 for 5 on the night to give him a team high 38 RBI on the year. Ryan Core and Bryan Sneed each drove in two runs to add to the Cajun attack.
UL Lafayette improves to 24-26 overall on the season and will next travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas for a crucial conference series against the Arkansas State Indians beginning this Friday at 2 p.m.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
