University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Wichita State
Late Inning Rally Downs Cajuns at Wichita State
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5,
2004
Wichita, Kan.-A ferocious eighth inning comeback propelled the ninth-ranked Wichita State Shockers to a 4-2 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in chilly 44-degree weather at Eck Stadium.
With the loss, the Cajuns are now 7-3 on the season. WSU improves to 1-0.
A trio of homers in the eighth pulled the home team ahead. Shawn Smarsh hit a single to center field to leadoff the bottom of the eighth for WSU. Smarsh was picked off just before Phil Napolitan doubled to right. Cajuns starter Kevin Ardoin surrendered Nick Blasi's home run over the right field wall, which tied the game at 2-2. Logan Sorenstam knocked the second pitch he saw from Jered Salazar over the right field wall, before Drew Moffitt took Salazar deep to center for a solo shot giving the Shockers a 4-2 lead.
Ardoin (1-2) pitched well, going seven and one-third, allowing two earned runs on six hits, and striking out four. Tommy Hottovy picked up the win surrendering only one hit in three and two-thirds innings of relief. Hottovy (1-0) struck out four of the ten batters he faced.
The Cajuns played small-ball to jump on the board in the top of the first. Justin Merendino reached second on a two-base error. John Coker and Dallas Morris put down a pair of sacrifice grounders to bring the Cajuns leadoff hitter around.
The Cajuns put the leadoff hitter on base again in the second and third, but were unable to add to their 1-0 lead.
Justin Bourque walked and stole second, but was stranded after Mike Pelfry retired the next three Cajuns hitters in the second.
Kevin Preau singled up the middle to open the third. Preau advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Merendino, but ended the inning when he was caught stealing at third.
Morris, who hit his first collegiate homerun at Eck Stadium, launched another over the outfield wall. The solo shot upped the Cajuns lead to 2-0.
Shockers rightfielder Moffit hit a single to left and stole second with one out in the fourth. Moffit advanced to third on a sacrifice grounder. Ardoin was; however, able to pitch out of the jam by striking out Bryan Erstad.
Blasi singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Sorensen drew a walk. The Shockers pulled a double steal, putting the baserunners at second and third with two gone. Ardoin again avoided run damage coaxing Brandon Green to ground out to second.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
