University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International*
Cajuns Rout Golden Panthers for Sixth Straight Win
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MIAMI-Louisiana' Ragin' Cajuns baseball team extended their winning streak to six games as they pounded the Florida International 12-2 at University Park in Miami. The Cajuns (26-13, 9-2 SBC) have now won eight consecutive Sun Belt Conference games.
The Cajuns collected 17 hits on the day including a pair of homeruns and cruised behind the arm of their starting pitcher who held the Golden Panthers to two runs. Six different Cajuns batters finished the game with multiple hits on the day.
Sophomore catcher Jonathan Lucroy broke the game wide open in the third inning as he hit his first career grand slam as a Cajun. Lucroy finished the game with two hits and a team high five runs batted in.
Devery Van De Keere collected three hits for the Cajuns. His fourth homerun of the season was part of a five run Cajuns third inning that broke the game open for UL.
Starting pitcher Buddy Glass pitched his fourth complete game of the season. The right hander is currently 3-1 on the season when he throws a complete game. Glass scattered five hits on the day, allowing just a pair of runs. He surrendered two solo homeruns to account for the FIU pair of runs. Glass struck out seven batters while allowing just two free passes.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Ragin' Cajuns surrendered their second homerun of the series. Florida International's Michael Lopez hit a solo homerun over the right field fence to give the Golden Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
The Cajuns were able to tie the score in the top of the second inning. Alex Preciado led off the inning with a single up the middle. He moved to second base thanks to a balk by FIU's starting pitcher. A groundout moved Preciado to third base. Jefferies Tatford hit an RBI single to left centerfield to plate Preciado and tie the score at one apiece.
The Ragin' Cajuns survived a threat in the bottom of the second inning. Glass walked the lead off runner of the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base and advanced to third base on a fly ball. Glass escaped without a run scored as he induced a popup to second base to end the inning.
Jameson Parker led off the third inning with a line drive down the right field line. John McCarthy tried to bunt the runner over to second base. McCarthy's bunt bounced over the pitcher's head for an infield single. Devon Bourque laid down a beautiful bunt down the third base line to advance the runners. The Golden Panthers third baseman moved to third base to cover the throw and all runners reached safely as Bourque hit the second bunt single of the inning to load the bases. Lucroy stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs and hit his first grand slam of his career to give the Cajuns a 5-1 lead. Van De Keere followed to batters later with a solo homer to boost the lead to 6-1.
In the Cajuns half of the fourth inning, Scott Hawkins led off the inning with a single to left centerfield. Parker reached base on a fielder's choice, as he laid down an attempted sacrifice bunt. The Golden Panthers' third baseman attempted to throw out Hawkins at second base, but his throw pulled the fielder covering second base off the bag for Hawkins to reach safely. McCarthy bunted for a single to advance the runners and load the bases. Bourque walked to bring another Cajuns run home. Lucroy collected his fifth RBI of the game as hit flew out to right field for the sacrifice fly. Van De Keere singled to right field to plate McCarthy. Two more runs scored as Landry singled to right centerfield and the fielder mishandled the ball. The Cajuns finished the inning with five runs on four hits to go ahead 11-1.
Florida International cut the in the fifth inning. Kurt Crowell hit a solo homerun to cut the lead to 11-2.
The Cajuns answered the run in the eighth inning. Parker singled to right field and came around to score as McCarthy doubled to left centerfield. The Ragin' Cajuns would hold the 12-2 and clinch the series.
UL and FIU will conclude the series on Sunday, April 23 at 12 Noon at University Park in Miami. The Cajuns will look to sweep their third consecutive conference series and their fourth straight series of the year.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
