University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Western Kentucky
Cajuns Fall To Western Kentucky 9-7
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2004
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns couldn't claw their way back into the series finale against Western Kentucky as the Hilltopppers took the game by a score of 9-7 Sunday at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. The Cajuns are now 16-8 on the season and 2-1 in conference play with the loss.
Daniel Faulkner got the decision for the Hilltoppers going seven-and-one-thirds innings giving up seven runs on nine hits while striking out three. Kenny Griffin who came in to pitch the final inning got his first save of the season as Western Kentucky evens their season record at 14-14.
Ian Pecoraro took the loss in his second start of the week. Pecoraro (0-1) threw four innings surrendering six runs on five hits while issuing three walks.
The game had the feel of a classic pitchers duel as both starting pitchers sat the opposing sides in order in the first two innings.
Western Kentucky put baserunners on in the top of the third when Judd Robertson was hit by a pitch before Jordan Newton was walked. A ground out moved the runners over to second and third. Matt Johnston drew a base on balls to load the bags with two away. Robertson scored on a passed ball giving the Hilltoppers the 1-0 lead.
Faulkner would retire the Cajuns side in order in the top of the fourth. Pecoraro reciprocated in the bottom half of the inning getting the four, five and six hitters in the WKU lineup.
WKU broke the game open in the fifth when Robertson singled to left-center before moving to second on a Dominic Rio single up the middle to open inning. Newton bunted his way on to load the bases before a wild pitch plated WKU's second run. A throwing error brought Rio home before Johnston singled to right scoring Newton to make the game a 4-0 contest.
Kraig Schambough came on in relief of Pecoraro after Tim Grogan drew a walk on a full count. Antone Towns singled up the middle on a ball that took an odd hop off the pitcher's mound plating Johnston for the Hilltoppers' fifth run in the inning.
The Cajuns trimmed lead in the bottom of the fifth when Phillip Hawke singled to the first base side before Justin Bourque moved him to third on a stand-up double to left to start the frame. Kevin Preau singled and advanced to second on the throw that put Bourque on third and scored the first run of the afternoon for UL Lafayette. Micah Cockrell singled to score Bourque before Adam Massiatte doubled to center scoring the two Cajuns baserunners bringing the score to 6-4.
The Cajuns picked up one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Hawke singled to right with one gone in the inning before Bourque singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Preau reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error cost the Toppers a run as Hawke pulled into home as the home team inched to within one.
Western Kentucky reestablished a two-run edge with Matt Gunning's double to the wall in center. Gunning scored on Cary Page's single to left-center.
The Hilltoppers scored two more in the top of the eighth. Robertson doubled down the third base line before Rio singled and advanced to second on an error that scored a run. Johnston plated Rio with a single that gave Western a 9-5 lead before Brandt Sanders got the final out of the inning in relief.
The Cajuns picked up a pair in the bottom of inning eight when Hawke singled with one away before Bourque doubled to the first base side putting Hawke on third. Preau hit a sac fly to score Hawke and advance Bourque to third. Cockrell's two-out flare to center scored Bourque pulling the Cajuns to within two.
Landry drove a triple to left-center before Morris was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, but a pair of ground outs would retire the Cajuns side to end the game.
Louisiana-Lafayette will travel Thursday to play Middle Tennessee in a three game series starting next Friday at 7 p.m. The Cajuns and Blue Raiders will play Saturday at 2 p.m. before the series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
