University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
* Arkansas-Little Rock
Salazar, Rodriguez Lift Cajuns to Fourth SBC Series Win 8-4
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LITTLE ROCK,
Ark.-A three-run fifth frame, highlighted by Jason Rodriguez's second homerun of the series, coupled with
Jered Salazar's masterful control of the strike zone
paved the way for the Cajuns' second win of the weekend
as they take the series from the Trojans of UALR by an
8-4 final. The Cajuns move to 24-11 on the season
overall and 8-3 in Sun Belt Conference play with the
victory.
The Cajuns pulled ahead in the fifth when John Coker
reached on a two-base error to start the inning. Justin Merendino reached first and advanced Coker to third on a
sacrifice bunt. Rodriguez's homer drove in three, giving
the Cajuns a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez's longball exited the
playing area over the wall in straightaway center, the
deepest spot in the park.
Jered Salazar picked up his second win in as many Game
three starts for the Ragin' Cajuns. Salazar (3-2)
pitched seven and two-thirds innings
surrendering three runs on six hits while fanning six
Trojans.
Bennett Cromer (3-5) lost the game for UALR being
touched up for four runs on five hits through the first
five innings five innings.
Cromer worked a full count to the first two batters of
the game and got the strikeout on both before Justin Bourque drew a walk. Cromer got Dallas Morris to
groundout to third to retire the Cajuns in the top of
the first.
Rhett Hubbard hit a lead off triple to start the bottom
of the first for
Arkansas-Little Rock. Matt Spatafora picked up the RBI
on a groundout to second.
Cromer and Salazar sat the opposing sides in order in
the second inning.
In the top of the third, Micah Cockrell tied the
ballgame at one with a solo homerun that left the yard
over the wall in left. Cockrell's fourth bomb of the
season was his second of the weekend.
Chris Becker lined a one-out single up the middle before
advancing to second on an Aaron Haefele single through
the right side. With the two Trojans on, Salazar induced
the four-six-three double play off the bat of catcher
Joe Petrino to end the inning.
Salazar sat the Trojans 1-2-3 in the bottom of the
fifth.
Coker doubled down the line in left to open the sixth
prompting Trojans Head Coach Brian Rhees to make a call
to the bullpen and bring in right-handed freshman Scott
Yant.
Justin Merendino pushed a sacrifice bunt down the first
base line to advance Coker to third, but the new pitcher
for UALR would get out of the jam without allowing the
run to score.
The Cajuns got a lead off single from Morris in the
seventh. Core made it a 6-1 game with a homerun to the
power ally in left-center.
Cockrell singled to left and stole second with two away
in the same stanza before Coker picked up his seventh
hit of the weekend series with an RBI single. Merendino
doubled in Coker with a drive that touched the wall in
left center.
Dustin Turner came on in relief of Yant who got the
final out of the inning. The Trojans added three runs on
four hits and a wild pitch in the bottom of the eight.
Kevin Ardoin came on to work in the inning with two
gone. Ardoin gave up a pair of singles and threw a wild
pitch that scored a run before settling in strikeout
Haefele swinging.
Ardoin sat the Trojans in order in the bottom of the
ninth as the Cajuns
take two of three in the series.
The Cajuns will travel back to Lafayette this evening
and prepare for a
mid-week showdown with Tulane at Zephyr Field in New
Orleans. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
