University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
New Mexico State
Buras, Preau Lift Cajuns to 12-8 Victory over New Mexico State
5/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOBILE, Ala.- Rhett Buras and Kevin Preau each went deep twice finishing with five RBIs each in the contest as the Cajuns rolled to a 12-8 victory over the New Mexico State Aggies Wednesday afternoon at Stanky Field.
A five-run seventh inning gave the Ragin' Cajuns a four-run cushion securing the squad's first round one Tournament win since 1999.
Heavy-hitting designated hitter Buras was at it again, this time launching a three-run shot deep to left and gone to give the Ragin' Cajuns a 10-8 lead. Buras's second longball of the afternoon came after Micah Cockrell singled to third and Phillip Hawke drew a free pass to start the bottom of the seventh frame.
Brad Saloom kept the inning going for the Cajuns with a walk before Preau went deep for the second time in the ball game to give the team in vermilion and white a 12-8 lead.
Brandt Sanders came on in relief of starter Jered Salazar to earn the win. Sanders (2-4) allowed one run on two hits while fanning five through three and one-thirds innings. Salazar threw five and two-thirds innings getting key outs to keep his club in the ball game.
Rory Coppinger took thius afternoon's loss for NMSU. Coppinger (7-2) allowed seven runs on six hits through four innings of work in relief.
The Aggies jumped ahead early in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Chris Ewen singled to center and scored on Dustin Mote's two-run shot over the wall in left giving NMSU a 2-0 lead.
Salazar settled in striking out a pair en route to retiring the New Mexico State side in order in the top of inning two.
The Cajuns cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second. Ryan Core singled through the left side to score Josh Landry who reached base on a fielder's choice.
Buras gave the Cajuns a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third with his ninth homerun of the season. The two-run bomb plated Cockrell who singled down the third base line and swiped second earlier in the inning. Buras's homerun was his fourth jack in six days at Stanky Field.
Emory Davies went deep for New Mexico State scoring Adrian Ballesteros who drew a walk. Davies's two-run homerun gave the Aggies a 4-3 lead.
Preau singled in a run to tie the game at 4-4 after Saloom and Core started the bottom of the fourth with a pair of singles off of NMSU starter Brian Gausman. Preau's base knock put Cajuns on the corners.
John Coker gave the Cajuns the lead with an RBI fielder's choice that allowed Core to cross home.
Coppinger came on in relief
of Gausman in the bottom of the fifth.
Coppinger issued a walk to Hawke, but pitched his way out of
the inning without allowing the Louisiana-Lafayette
baserunner to advance.
Davies singled a run for New Mexico State in the top of the sixth tying the game at five apiece. Mark Aranda dropped a two-out single into right-center just before Salazar walked Ballesteros.
Brandt Sanders came on in relief to face Gavin Monjaras. Sanders surrendered a homerun to Monjaras on an 0-1 count giving NMSU an 8-5 advantage.
Preau pulled the Cajuns to within one at 8-7, with a two-run shot that left the yard over the fence in left. Preau's homer plated Saloom who singled to reach base.
Sanders closed out the Aggies
getting the last nine outs without allowing a run to score.
The win gives Louisiana-Lafayette a 6:30 p.m. showdown
Thursday against 2004 Sun Belt Conference Regular Season
Champion and defending Dodge Sun Belt Tournament Champion
Middle Tennessee.
For updates on the 2004 Dodge Sun Belt Conference
Tournament, log on to
www.USAJaguars.com or
www.sunbeltsports.org.
Louisiana-Lafayette 12, New Mexico State 8 (May 26, 2004 at
Mobile, AL)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New Mexico State.... 200 204 000 - 8 7
0 (32-24-1, 12-13)
Louisiana-Lafayette. 012 202 50X - 12 13 2
(32-21, 12-11)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: New Mexico State - Gausman; Coppinger(5).
Louisiana-Lafayette - Salazar; Sanders(6).
Win-Sanders(2-4) Loss-Coppinger(7-2) T-2:44
A-2200
