University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Northwestern State
Bullpen, Cajuns Falter in Midweek Tilt
3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
UL scored five runs on eight hits, but fell to Northwestern State, 7-5
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team fell short in their attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since early March falling to Northwestern State by a score of 7-5. The Cajuns (12-11) continued to struggle with their relief pitching as the bullpen allowed five runs on the night.
For the second time in as many meetings, UL lost to Northwestern State by two runs. The Ragin' Cajuns fell to NSU, 2-0, on March 5 in the Louisiana-Lafayette Invitational.
The Cajuns tallied five runs on eight hits, but the offensive effort was not enough to top the Demons.
Jonathan Lucroy and Jefferies Tatford led the Cajuns with a pair of hits each. Lucroy scored two runs and drove in another. Josh Landry had one hit on the night and a sacrifice fly to drive in two runs.
The Ragin' Cajuns jumped out 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the bullpen saw the lead disappear allowing five runs over three innings.
Starting pitcher Greg Wilborn worked a career high 4.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits. The freshman southpaw struckout five batters, but allowed four walks on the night.
Jeff Martinez (0-1) entered the game in relief of Wilborn and took the loss for the Cajuns allowing four runs ? two earned runs ? on two hits and a walk.
The rest of the Cajuns bullpen allowed just one run, but the trio of Andrew Laughter, Justin Randa and Matt Pilgreen combined for four walks and a hit-by-pitch. Of the three, only Pilgreen recorded a strikeout on the evening.
UL started the game with a base runner as John McCarthy was struck by a ball. Devon Bourque attempted to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but Northwestern State tried to get the lead runner and threw the ball into centerfield allowing McCarthy to reach second on the error. A double steal advanced both runners to scoring position and a single by Lucroy gave the Cajuns the first run of the ballgame. Freshman Scott Hawkins continued the inning with an RBI single of his own. Lucroy and Hawkins advanced on a fly ball. Landry singled through the left side to plate Lucroy, but the inning ended as Hawkins attempted to score and was called out at the plate.
The score would remain 3-0 until the fifth inning. Wilborn, who pitched effectively through four innings, started to falter in the fifth frame. The freshman was able to retire the first two batters of the inning, but walked the next two batters. A double from Marty Dewees cut plated the two base runners and cut the UL lead to just 3-2. Martinez entered the game in relief of Wilborn and was able to end the inning, striking out the next Demon batter.
Martinez would not be as effective in the sixth inning. The senior from Baton Rouge allowed surrendered a leadoff hit in the sixth inning. Northwestern State tried to bunt the runner over, but an errant throw by Martinez allowed both runners aboard safely. NSU managed to advance the runners on a sacrifice bunt. A walk loaded the bases and a Michael Flowers' triple cleared the bases and gave the Demons a 5-3 edge on the Cajuns.
Andrew Laughter entered the game for the Cajuns. Northwestern State attempted a squeeze bunt. Laughter fielded the bunt and threw home to prevent the run, but his toss was off the mark allowing the run to score. Laughter allowed an infield single to continue the inning, but managed to escape the inning without any further damage.
In the NSU half of the seventh inning, Laughter started the inning by hitting the first batter and walking the next batter. Justin Randa entered the game to pitch for UL. The lefty recorded the first out of the inning as Northwestern State bunted to advance the runners. A groundout saw the Cajuns one out away from any further damage, but back-to-back walks scored a run and extended the NSU lead to 7-3.
The Cajuns managed to cut the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bourque led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Lucroy's second hit of the night. Hawkins walked to load the bases. Grant Derouen singled up the middle to bring Bourque home and a sacrifice fly by Landry made the score 7-5.
Northwestern State brought in Russell Dorton to end the game. The pitcher recorded the last five outs of the game to pick up his first win of the season. He had no strikeouts but induced an inning ending double play in the bottom of the eighth inning and retired the Cajuns in order in the ninth.
The Cajuns look to rebound this weekend as they host Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas State in a weekend series. The series will be the first home conference series for the Cajuns this season. The weekend series is set to begin on Friday at 6:30 and will continue on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Cajuns and Indians will conclude the series on Sunday in a game scheduled for 1 p.m. All games will be played at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
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