University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International
Ragin? Cajuns Pound Golden Panthers 19-5
3/31/2007 9:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Cajuns improved to 23-5 overall and 9-2 in Sun Belt Conference play, while the Golden Panthers dropped to 15-15 on the year with a 2-6 conference mark.
The Ragin' Cajuns dominated the game for the most part and broke the game open in the seventh inning. The Cajuns sent 12 men to the plate in the seventh which was the most this season and marked the 10th time this year that UL has batted around. The seven-run seventh was the most runs scored in an inning and the Cajuns did it on the most hits this year in one inning.
The 19 runs scored by UL was the most this season and the 22 hits was the most in 2007. The Cajuns collected five homeruns on the day, the most in a single game this season.
All nine starters had hit in the game including five UL batters who collected multiple hits on the day.
Kolin Hatfield had a career game for the Cajuns. The junior transfer was a perfect 5-for-5 on the day with three homeruns. Hatfield added a double and a single on the day to go along with a sacrifice fly. He scored four runs on the day and tied the school record with nine RBI on the day.
Nolan Gisclair and William Long both added four hits apiece on the afternoon. Gisclair finished the day 4-for-7 with four runs scored and an RBI, while Long finished the day 4-for-6 with a runs scored and an RBI.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had two hits on the day, but made them count. Lucroy hit two homers on the afternoon. He finished the day going 2-for-4 with two homeruns and two intentional walks.
The only other Cajuns player with multiple hits on the day was Devon Bourque. The second baseman was 2-for-5 with a run batted in.
Starting pitcher Hunter Moody (4-2) earned the win for the Cajuns. The southpaw worked 7.0 innings, scattering six hits. Moody allowed all five runs the Cajuns gave up, but only two of the runs were earned, due to UL's only error of the game. Moody fanned four batters while walking two and hitting two.
For the second day in a row, the Golden Panthers were the first to scratch the scoreboard. In his first inning of work, Hunter Moody did not come out particularly sharp. He walked the first FIU batter of the game on four straight pitches. He was helped out by his defense as the next batter hit into a 543 double play for the first two outs of the inning. Moody hit the next batter on the first pitch. A bloop single gave FIU runners on the corners. An infield hit up the middle plated the first run of the game. The Cajuns ended the inning with a fly ball, but trailed 1-0 after one complete inning.
The Cajuns tied the score in the top of the second inning. With one out, Hatfield hit a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to get the Cajuns on the board. The homerun was Hatfield's second of the season. The Cajuns followed the homer with three straight singles to right field, but a caught stealing in the middle of the base hits prevented the Cajuns from plating the runner and a groundout ended the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Cajuns were able to score a couple of runs to take the lead. Gisclair collected his fourth hit of the series with a bunt single down the third base line. Jefferies Tatford doubled to right field to give UL runners on second and third. With first base open, Lucroy was intentionally walked. Hawkins made the Golden Panthers pay as he singled to left field, scoring Gisclair. A wild pitch moved the runners up the base and brought the second run of the inning home. A sacrifice fly by Hatfield scored Lucroy from third and gave the Cajuns a 4-1 lead.
The Cajuns added another three spot in the top of the fifth inning. After Tatford was hit by his team-leading seventh pitch of the season, Lucroy hit his team-high seventh homerun of the season. FIU managed to get an out, but Hatfield followed with his second homerun of the day. The Golden Panthers were able to record the final two outs, but after four and half innings of play the Cajuns led 7-1.
The six-run lead did not last long as FIU answered in the bottom of the fifth. The Panthers leadoff batter singled up the middle to get the inning started for FIU. Florida International attempted to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but an errant throw by the Cajuns gave the Golden Panthers runners on second and third base. FIU took advantage of a Ragin' Cajuns mental mistake. Lucroy walked to the mound to talk with Moody, and neither player called time and the FIU baserunners alertly advanced one base, with the lead runner scoring easily from third. FIU bunted with the next batter and the ball was just out of reach of a diving Moody. With runners on the corners, Moody hit the next batter to load the bases. A wild pitch moved each runner up one base. Moody used a strikeout and a ground out to record the first two outs of the inning. A run came across on the ground out, cutting into the Cajuns lead. A walk and an RBI single up the middle continued the inning before a ground out ended the FIU threat. The four runs scored in the inning cut the Cajuns advantage to just two-runs at 7-5.
The Cajuns managed to get a pair of those runs back in the top of the sixth inning.
The seventh inning the Cajuns put the game out of reach. After back-to-back ground outs, the Cajuns batted around and scored a season high seven runs in the inning.
The Cajuns padded their lead in the top of the eighth inning. Gisclair started the inning with a single through the left side. Matt Casbon added a single of his own. A double play recorded the first two outs and retired Casbon on the play. With Gisclair on third, Hawkins was hit by a pitch. Hatfield recorded his fifth hit of the day?a two RBI double to right centerfield. The second double of the inning by Long scored Hatfield and gave the Cajuns a 19-5 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Golden Panthers complete the series on Sunday afternoon at
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