University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Middle Tennessee State*
Comeback Efforts Fall Short as Blue Raiders Edge Cajuns
5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sunday, May 14, 2006
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns comeback efforts fell just short as they dropped a 5-4 decision to Middle Tennessee on a rainy Mother's Day at Reese Smith Field.
The Cajuns could get nothing done offensively collecting only four hits in the first eight innings on the afternoon and scoring only one run. The only run came on a Jonathan Lucroy solo homerun to left field. The homerun cut the MTSU lead to 2-1, but the Blue Raiders were able to build a 5-1 lead and carry that into the ninth inning.
In the ninth, the Cajuns put two runners on base as Devery Van De Keere hit a single through the right side and Lucroy reached base thanks to a walk. The Blue Raiders changed pitchers and were able to record the first two outs of the inning. Scott Hawkins, who was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, hit his fourth homerun of the season to pull the Cajuns to within one. The comeback efforts fell short, however, as a fly ball ended the game.
Jason Fernandez took the loss for the Cajuns. The junior hurler allowed five runs ? four earned runs ? on eight hits. He struck out six batters, but gave up a two-run homerun and walked four batters.
With two outs in the top of the first inning, Van De Keere singled through the left side of the infield to give the Cajuns their first base runner of the game. He went no further than first base as Middle Tennessee induced a groundout to end the inning.
For the Blue Raiders in the first inning, the leadoff hitter doubled down the leftfield line. A wild pitch allowed the runner to move to third base. A single brought the run home and saw the Cajuns down 1-0 after just two batters. The runner at first base stole second base, and an errant throw by UL allowed him to move to third base. Following a strikeout, the runner came around to score on a ground ball. The Ragin' Cajuns finished out the inning with the second strikeout of the day, but the damage had been done as Middle Tennessee took an early 2-0 lead.
For the Cajuns in the second inning, Alex Preciado singled up the middle with one out to give UL a base runner. For the second inning in a row, the Cajuns were not able to move the runner and left the runner on base.
Fernandez settled down in the second inning. He led of the inning with a strikeout. He recorded the second out of the inning with a groundout before closing out the inning with his fourth strikeout of the game.
The Cajuns cut the score in the top of the fourth inning. Lucroy stepped to the plate with one out and cut the lead with one swing. The sophomore hit his team leading ninth homerun of the season into the Blue Raiders' football field behind left field. The Ragin' Cajuns were unable to do anything more in the inning but cut the lead to 2-1 after three and a half innings of play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cajuns were victims of some tough luck. The lead off batter lined a ball towards first base and Jefferies Tatford jumped up and caught the ball. When he landed on the ground, the ball came out of his glove and the first base umpire ruled the runner safe. That play came back to haunt the Cajuns. The runner stole second base to move into scoring position. A groundout moved the runner to third base and he came around to score on a second ground ball. A single continued the inning. The runner attempted to steal second base. Lucroy threw to second base to try to catch the runner. Matt Hicks made the catch in time and appeared to make the tag, but the umpire covering the play ruled the runner safe. That runner would not hurt UL as he attempted to take third base on a ball in the dirt and Lucroy threw the runner out to end the inning.
Devon Bourque drew his team leading 43rd walk of the season in the top of the fifth inning, but the Cajuns offense was once again unable to do anything with the runner as they stranded their third base runner of the afternoon.
The Blue Raiders added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fernandez led off the inning with a walk, but followed that with a strikeout. Fernandez surrendered a two-run homerun to leftfield to extend the MTSU lead to 5-1. Danny Farquhar entered the game in relief. Farquhar got a ground ball for the second out of the inning and saw a line drive to third base for the final out of the inning.
Trailing 5-1 in the ninth inning, the Cajuns mounted a small rally. Van De Keere led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Lucroy followed Van De Keere with a walk to give the Ragin' Cajuns a pair of base runners. Following two outs, Hawkins lifted a pitch over the left centerfield wall to cut the lead to 5-4. UL would go no further as MTSU induced a fly ball to end the game.
The Cajuns will return to action for the final four games of the regular season. UL will take on in-state rival Northwestern State at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field on Tuesday. The game will serve as the final ticket redemption night and is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns will then close out the regular season with a three-game conference series against Western Kentucky. The Cajuns and Hilltoppers will play on Thursday through Saturday. Game times are slated for 6:30 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday, with Saturday's game scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
