University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Middle Tennessee
Blue Raiders Hand Cajuns First Tournament Loss
5/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Mobile, Ala.- The Cajuns made it interesting in the ninth inning, but couldn't get enough going to stop the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee rode their starter John Williams to an 8-6 win in round two of the Dodge Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Stanky Field.
Middle Tennessee opened up the contest in the eighth frame.
The Blue Raiders loaded the bases with a trio of singles, two coming by way of bunts in the bottom of the eighth. MTSU took the lead on a sacrifice fly to center.
A passed ball allowed McNamee to score before a Nate Jaggers' single brought two more Raiders home putting the Cajuns behind 7-4.
Shane Kemp kept the inning alive with a single off of new Cajuns pitcher Thad Montgomery. Montgomery allowed a single to Jeff Beechum, scoring Jaggers from second to put Middle up 8-4.
Williams (8-3) allowed four earned runs on nine hits through eight and one-thirds innings in the winning effort. Matt Scott picked up his first save of the season getting the last two outs in the ninth.
Tonight's loss went to Kraig Schambough. Schambough (6-4) pitched six innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on nine hits.
Williams sat the top of the Louisiana-Lafayette lineup in order to start the game.
Cajuns righty Ian Pecoraro walked a pair of batters, but struck out a pair to help him and the Cajuns get out of the first inning without allowing any runs to score.
MTSU claimed an early 1-0 lead in the second after Pecoraro walked the bases loaded and then issued a free pass to Eric McNamee on a full count, walking in a run.
Schambough came on in relief of Pecoraro with the bases loaded. Schambough got Chuck Akers to hit into a spectacular 4-6-3 double play.
A Middle Tennessee defensive miscue helped the Cajuns whitewash the lead. Justin Merendino reached base on a fielding error that plated Ryan Core. Core reached base by singling through the left side and took second when John Coker was hit with a pitch.
Coker crossed home as Merendino was caught in a run-down between first and second to give UL Lafayette a 2-1 lead.
Schambough surrendered a double to Phillips and walked Jaggers to start the bottom of the third, but got out of the inning unscathed with a strikeout and a couple of routine fly balls to the outfield.
Williams again sat the Cajuns in order, this time putting down Louisiana-Lafayette in the top of the fifth.
Jaggers opened the bottom of the fifth with an infield single and took second on a fielder's choice and an errant throw to the bag. Beachum singled into right-center to load the bases. Marcus Taylor put the Blue Raiders up 3-2 with a two-run double to right.
A Troy Harp sacrifice fly ball plated Beachum to give Middle a 4-2 advantage after five.
Middle got a leadoff double from Phillips in the bottom of the sixth, but Schambough would pitch out of the inning holding the Raiders off of the scoreboard.
The Cajuns inched closer at 4-3 in the seventh on a Merendino double to right. Merendino's base knock plated Josh Landry who drew William's second walk of the ball game.
Kevin Preau tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth with an RBI double that plated Brad Saloom. Saloom doubled with two-outs in the inning to reach base.
UL Lafayette nearly came back in the ninth when Coker drew a walk and advanced to third on a Merendino double. Micah Cockrell singled in both runners pulling the Cajuns to within two at 8-6.
Scott; however, got the last two outs without allowing the tying run.
With tonight's loss, The Cajuns will again face the New Mexico State Aggies, this time in an elimination game, tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
