University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Iowa
Cajuns Pick Up Their Second Victory Over Iowa
3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jason Fernandez tosses a complete game and Tim Santiago gets the final two RBI to help Cajuns complete the rally
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - For the second day in a row, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a complete game pitching performance to earn a win at the Baseball Express Collegiate Baseball Classic. Right handed pitcher Jason Fernandez threw a complete game four hitter to lead UL (8-4) past Iowa (5-4) by a score of 3-2.
Fernandez threw a complete game for the first time in his collegiate career. The junior allowed two runs, scattering four hits, striking out six and walking just one.
The complete game was the second straight game for the Cajuns where the starting pitcher went the distance. In Saturday's victory over No. 15 Texas A&M, Hunter Moody pitched a complete game allowing just one unearned run.
The win marks the Cajuns' second win over Iowa in an eight day span. UL downed the Hawkeyes 14-9 in Lafayette in the Louisiana-Lafayette Invitational on Saturday, March 4. Fernandez earned the win against Iowa in the teams' first meeting. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out four Hawkeye batters.
Offensively for the Cajuns, Josh Landry and Alex Preciado both had a pair of hits to lead UL. Landry had an RBI in the game and scored two runs, including the game winning run in the top of the eighth inning.
Tim Santiago finished the game with just one hit, but the junior had two vital runs batted in on the day. Santiago ripped an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning, which tied the game at 2-2. Then in the top of the eighth inning, he lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate the go-ahead run.
The Hawkeyes were the first team to scratch the scoreboard.
Brian Burmester singled to third base in the bottom of the second inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Iowa tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Burmester failed to advance on the putout. Burmester would come around to score courtesy of a Kevin Hoef singled single.
Iowa added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 advantage. With a full count, Hoef was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second base and a wild pitch allowed Hoef to reach third base. Hoef scored as Nate Price hit a ball to the Ragin' Cajuns second baseman. UL threw home to try to prevent the run, but Hoef slid under the tag for the run.
The Cajuns used a pair of hits in the top of the sixth inning to even the score at 2-2. Jameson Parker led off the inning with a walk. The senior stole second to give the Cajuns a runner in scoring position. A single by Landry plated Parker. Landry stole second base and came around to score as Santiago doubled to right field.
UL took the lead in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Landry singled through the right side. He advanced to third base thanks to a Jonathan Lucroy single. Following a Jefferies Tatford walk, Santiago hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to plate Landry and give the Cajuns a 3-2 advantage.
The 3-2 edge would prove to be enough as the Cajuns' defense held tough.
Louisiana concludes play in the Collegiate Baseball Classic on Monday, March 13 as the Cajuns play tournament host Texas-San Antonio at 3 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
