University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
McNeese State
Cajuns Extend Winning Streak to Four Games
4/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team downed in-state rival McNeese State 8-4 on Tuesday night at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. The win was the fourth straight win for the Cajuns and the 10th consecutive win for UL at the Tigue.
The Ragin' Cajuns were able to generate eight runs on 10 hits on the night to power past the Cowboys.
Louisiana-Lafayette was led by Jefferies Tatford and Devery Van De Keere. The duo both had three hits apiece on the night with two doubles each. Both players had a pair of runs batted in on the night to pace the Cajuns.
Jonathan Lucroy was the only other Cajun with multiple hits on the night. One of his hits was his team leading sixth home run of the season. Six homeruns marks a career high in a season for Lucroy surpassing the five homeruns he hit as a freshman.
The Cajuns pitching staff allowed four runs on eight hits. Danny Farquhar earned his fourth win of the season pitching four innings and allowing just one run on the night.
UL jumped out on the Cowboys early scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. John McCarthy led off the game with a walk. Devon Bourque hit his team leading seventh sacrifice bunt to advance McCarthy to second base. Van De Keere hit the first of his two doubles on the night to plate the first Cajuns' runner of the game. Van De Keere moved to third base as Tatford reached base on an error. A sacrifice fly by Alex Preciado plated Van De Keere for the second run of the inning.
McNeese State responded in the third inning with a run of their own. Shon Landry singled to shortstop to give the Cowboys a base runner. Landry advanced to second base on a failed pickoff attempt. A single by Lafayette native Chris Fontenot brought Landry around to score and cut the UL lead to 2-1.
The Ragin' Cajuns added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bourque singled through the left side of the infield and came around to score when Van De Keere hit his second RBI double of the night. Tatford hit one of his two doubles of the evening to plate Van De Keere and push the Cajuns lead to 4-1.
In the fifth inning, the Cajuns saw their first four runners reach base safely. Bourque drew a base on balls to lead off the inning. Van De Keere moved Bourque to second base with a bloop single to left field. Tatford attempted to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but placed the ball just out of reach and managed to reach base safely with an infield hit. Preciado recorded his second RBI of the night as he singled through the left side to score Bourque from third.
The Cajuns added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. McCarthy was hit by a pitch and stole his team leading 17th base to advance to second base. Following a Bourque walk, Van De Keere advanced McCarthy to third base with a deep fly ball. Tatford lined his second double of the night down the right field line to plate the runners and extend the Cajuns lead to 7-1.
In the seventh inning, relief pitcher Greg Wilborn could not keep the Cowboys down. He surrendered a double and a single to start the inning and followed that up with a walk to load the bases. Brandt Sanders came into the game in relief of Wilborn. Sanders walked in the first run of the inning. Two fielder's choices plated two more runners and cut the UL lead to 7-4.
Lucroy added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning as he hit is team leading sixth home run.
Closer Chad Beck entered the game in the eighth inning and kept the Cowboys scoreless to preserve the 8-4 win.
The Cajuns will travel to Miami for a three-game conference series with Florida International at University Park Stadium. UL and FIU will play Friday through Sunday, April 21-23. Game times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday and noon on both Saturday and Sunday.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
