University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
Cajuns Claim Series with Second Straight Win
4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns pulled out an 8-4 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. The win improves the Cajuns to 14-11 overall on the season and 3-2 in Sun Belt Conference play.
The win was the second straight win for the Cajuns. The pair of wins marks the first time since March 11 and 12 that the baseball team has won consecutive games. UL defeated Texas A&M and Iowa at the Baseball Express Collegiate Baseball Classic in San Antonio.
Trailing 4-2, the Cajuns took advantage of five-run inning to take the lead over Arkansas State.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alex Preciado and Tim Santiago both walked to give the Ragin' Cajuns a pair of runners on base. The Indians changed pitchers to try to stop the UL rally, but his first pitch struck Devon Bourque to load the bases. John McCarthy plated the first of five runs as he lined an infield single to third base plating Preciado and leaving the Cajuns with the bases loaded. Jameson Parker walked to score Santiago. Josh Landry hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Bourque. McCarthy and Parker executed a double steal to move both baserunners into scoring position. Jonathan Lucroy hit a ground rule double down the right field line to give the Cajuns a 7-4 lead, which the Cajuns would not relinquish.
The pair of steals by McCarthy and Parker in the sixth inning marks the fourth time this season that the tandem has both stolen a base in the same game. The Ragin' Cajuns are currently 4-0 when the duo both have a steal.
Buddy Glass (4-1) earned the win for the Cajuns. The sophomore allowed four runs, with only two earned runs. He scattered six hits, fanning four, and walking two.
The Cajuns' bullpen, which has struggled throughout the entire season, was solid on the afternoon. Danny Farquhar and Chad Beck pitched the final two innings for UL. Farquhar allowed no runs on one hit, three walks while striking out two. Beck entered the game in the ninth inning and recorded he final two outs. He struck out the final two ASU batters of the day. The junior has now struck out the last five batters he has faced.
UL was the first to score on the afternoon. Scott Hawkins led off the second inning with a walk. Jefferies Tatford singled to right field to advance Hawkins around to third base. Hawkins came around to score as Santiago grounded out to first base.
Arkansas State took the lead in the top half of the fifth inning. Michael Williams, Jr. singled to third base to start the inning. Josh Allison laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance Williams. Glass' throw to retire Allison was off the mark allowing both runners in scoring position. ASU's Elliot Jacobs continued the inning, singling through the right side of the infield. The single plated one runner and another came around to score as the Cajuns tried to throw out a base runner. Jacobs stole third and scored on the third Arkansas State hit of the inning.
Louisiana was able to cut the lead in the bottom half of the inning. McCarthy led off the inning with a double to left centerfield. Parker laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance McCarthy third. Landry doubled to left field, scoring McCarthy and cutting the lead to 3-2.
The Indians increased their lead in the sixth inning. Brett Kinning singled to center field to start the inning. The runner advanced to second base on a groundout. Kinning came around to score as Preciado miss played a ball in left field.
Arkansas State's 4-2 lead would not last very long. In the bottom of the sixth inning the Cajuns responded with their big five run inning.
UL added an insurance run in the eighth inning. With one out, Lucroy singled up the middle. He advanced to second as Hawkins singled to left field. Lucroy came around to score as Arkansas State's first baseman let a ball go between his legs and into the outfield.
The Cajuns bullpen held strong and secured the 8-4 win.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Indians will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Tigue. UL will look to sweep the series behind the arm of Jason Fernandez.
The Cajuns have not swept a home conference series since they claimed three victories over former Sun Belt Conference member New Mexico State on April 9 and 10, 2004.
A Cajuns win would also tie the season high for most consecutive games won this season. UL strung together three straight victories earlier this season defeating in-state foes Louisiana-Monroe (Feb. 26), Nicholls State (2/28) and McNeese State (3/1).
-Ragin' Cajuns-
