University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
NICHOLLS STATE
Cajuns Sneak Past Nicholls 4-3
5/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE- The Cajuns pulled off a ninth inning rally, and got some help from the Nicholls defense, to take tonight's game away Colonels by a final count of 4-3 at Moore Field. The Cajuns (30-17) picked up their fourth win in as many tries against Southland opponents going back to last Wednesday's 10-0 downing of SLU.
Nicholls closer Dustin Roddy issued a walk to Micah Cockrell to start the inning before Adam Massiatte reached first on a fielder's choice. Pinch hitter Brad Saloom doubled down the line in right on a ball that was initially hit foul but caromed off the glove of NSU first baseman Jake Ritchie. Ryan Core drew a walk to load the bases for Justin Merendino. Merendino was credited with the game tying RBI sacrifice fly to center. Brad Saloom came around to score the winning run when an attempt to throw him out at third was muscled into left field.
Patrick Green (4-1) got the win going the final three innings allowing one hit while fanning five. Green saw action after coming on in relief of Brandt Sanders who got tonight's start.
Roddy (3-2) took the loss allowing the final two runs for the Cajuns on one hit while walking two.
Merendino smoked a double to left and took third on an infield groundout to open the bottom of the first for the Cajuns. Phillip Hawke walked on four straight offerings, but an infield pop up and a fielder's choice got Colonel's starter Mike Prejean out of the jam.
Cockrell singled up the middle to start the inning. Cockrell advanced on a wild pitch before John Coker reached on an error. Coker swiped second and Merendino drew a walk to load the bases. Prejean caught Jason Rodriguez gazing at a called strike three to escape the inning without giving up a run.
The Colonels struck first on a Michael Roberts single that drove in Jeremy Helton who walked.
Hawke walked before moving to second on a Rhett Buras single to right. Josh Landry advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. The two would be stranded on base as Prejean again retired the next two in order as the Colonels held on to their 1-0 lead.
Helton drove in the Colonel's second run in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right scoring Bubba Bell who singled and took second on a groundout to short. Tony Ruiz singled, advancing Bell to third, and stole second.
Ruiz scored on a flare that fell into short center field for a double off the bat of Michael Roberts.
Jeff Morgan came on in relief of Sanders to register the last out of the inning.
Cockrell put the Cajuns on the board with a sacrifice fly ball to right scoring Buras who drew a one-out walk before taking third on a Landry single.
Mark Fernandez came in to deal for the Colonel's and plunked Coker with the first pitch he threw. Coker swiped second and took third when the ensuing throw went into center field. Merendino took first on a catcher's interference call. Hawke walked for the third time on the night to load the bases before Fernandez stranded the three with a fly out to put down the UL Lafayette uprising.
The new hurler for the Colonels, Robbie Hebert, hit Coker and walked Bourque to start the bottom of the eighth. Merendino drug a bunt single to the third baseman to load the pads. Hawke picked up the RBI with a base on balls pulling the Cajuns to within one.
The Cajuns will travel to Natchitoches tomorrow to face the Northwestern State Demons in a 6:30 p.m. game before returning home for the final home stand of the season this weekend. Louisiana-Lafayette is scheduled to take on Sun Belt Conference rival Arkansas State in a three game series to closeout the home schedule.
