University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Illinois
Cajuns Slip by Illinois to Extend Streak to Seven Games
3/8/2007 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nolan Gisclair hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give
the Cajuns a 7-6 win.
LAFAYETTE-
season as they edged out
Field by the score of 7-6.
The Ragin' Cajuns fell behind early and trailed by as many as four runs as
late as the sixth inning, but escaped with a dramatic 7-6 victory.
Trailing 6-2 in the sixth inning, the Ragin' Cajuns made a charge and cut
the
lead to just one run. Jonathan Lucroy led off the inning with a single to
left centerfield. A walk and groundout gave the Cajuns a runner at second
and third. A fly ball to right field recorded the second out of the inning,
but the ball was not deep enough to score a run. With two outs and a pair
of
runners on base, Scott Hawkins hit a two-run double to left field. An RBI
single by Justin Robichaux scored Hawkins and cut the Illini lead to just 6-
5.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lucroy doubled to right centerfield
with
two outs to get things started for the Cajuns. Devery Van De Keere singled
to centerfield to plate Lucroy and knot the score at
complete
innings.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, tied at 6-6, Devon Bourque worked the
count and drew a base on balls. Josh Logan entered the game to pinch run
for
Bourque. Xavier Alexander successfully executed a sacrifice bunt to move
third base. With a 2-1 count, Nolan Gisclair roped a ball into left field
for a single to plate
The Cajuns seven wins to start the season are the most since UL started the
1994 season 13-0.
Leading the way for the Ragin' Cajuns was Lucroy, Van De Keere, Hawkins and
Robichaux. The four hitters both collected a pair of hits on the day.
Hawkins and Van De Keere both had a pair of RBI in the game.
John Zorich (2-0) earned the win for the Cajuns. The southpaw entered the
game in the second inning in relief of starter Greg Wilborn. Zorich tossed
8.0 innings of work, allowing just a pair of runs while scattering eight
hits. He fanned eight batters on the day without issuing a walk.
In the first inning, the Illini used five groundball singles and an RBI
groundout to jump out to a 4-0 lead after a half of an inning.
first three batters singled to score the first run f the game. After a line
drive out, the Fighting Illini added a pair of RBI singles. An RBI
groundout
scored the final run of the inning.
Trailing for the first time all season, the Cajuns responded in their half
of
the first inning. Alexander led off the inning with a single through the
right side of the infield. The hit extended his hitting streak to a team-
leading seven games. A pair of groundouts advanced Alexander to third base.
Van De Keere singled up the middle to plate Alexander and cut into the
through the right side to score Van De Keere. After the first complete
inning, the Cajuns had cut the Illini lead to 4-2.
In the third inning,
first two batters, the Illini used a double and a single to plate a runner
and extend their lead to 5-2.
The Illini added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. With one
out,
runner and take a 6-2 lead.
The Cajuns responded with the three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning
and the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning setting the stage for
the dramatic win in the bottom of the ninth.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Illini will conclude the three-game series on Sunday
morning at
on My KLAF.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
