University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Northwestern State
Ragin' Cajuns Fall to Northwestern State in Pitchers Duel
3/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
UL lost their first game of the season against in-state rivals.
LAFAYETTE-Despite excellent pitching Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns dropped the final game of the Louisiana-Lafayette Invitational to in-state rival Northwestern State, 2-0, on Sunday at M. L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
The Cajuns were powered by excellent pitching on the night. Starting pitcher Hunter Moody scattered four hits over eight innings of work. The southpaw walked only two while striking out eight. Moody took the loss for the Cajuns, who dropped to 5-3 on the season. The sophomore surrendered the only two runs of the game.
Through the first six innings of the game, Moody was nearly perfect. He allowed only two hits and a pair of walks in the first six innings, fanning seven batters.
Northwestern State manufactured a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings to slip past the Cajuns.
In the seventh inning, NSU's Miles Durham singled up the middle to give the Demons a baserunner. A sacrifice bunt and a steal advanced Durham to third base. Durham would come around to score on a groundout to give the Demons a 1-0 advantage.
The Demons would extend their lead in the eighth inning, almost mirroring their seventh inning production. Scott Pittenger hit a ball just out of reach of a diving Josh Landry to reach second base. Northwestern State would use a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to plate the runner and extend their lead to 2-0.
Chad Beck entered the game in the ninth inning in relief of Moody. The junior transfer pitched 1.0 inning, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
The Cajuns defense was solid but UL was unable to generate any offense in crucial situations.
Louisiana grounded into three double plays and stranded four baserunners on the night.
Devon Bourque and Jefferies Tatford both had a pair of hits for the Cajuns, who finished the game with just six hits collectively.
The shutout marked the first time since Feb. 22, 2004 that the Cajuns have been shutout. The six hits for the Cajuns is the second lowest offensive total for UL this season. The Cajuns managed just three hits earlier this season in a loss to Purdue on Feb. 24.
The Demons used a strong pitching performance of their own to shutout the Cajuns.
Northwestern State's Kyle Broughton picked up the win for the Demon. Broughton pitched 8.0 innings allowing no runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six Cajuns batters.
Dereck Cloeren earned a save for the Demons, pitching the final inning effectively, surrendering three of the four batters he faced.
The Cajuns will return to action on Tuesday, March 7 to face Nicholls State. UL downed Nicholls State in Thibodaux 10-2 on Feb. 28. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the Tigue.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
