Errors Undo Hawkins, Robichaux Efforts

LAFAYETTE, La. ? Scott Hawkins broke the Ragin' Cajuns career home run record with a solo shot to left in the seventh inning and Justin Robichaux again delivered a stellar start, but the Cajuns still fell to WKU 4-2 in the second game of the three-game series, dropping to 21-27-1 overall and 10-15 in Sun Belt action.

Hawkins smashed his 40th career bomb to break the school's all-time career home run record, previously held by Ron Robicheaux (1983-86) at 39. Hawkins had been sitting in a tie for the last 17 games. The home run capped off a 2-for-4 outing as the only Cajun with multiple hits.

With the jack, Hawkins provided the team with one of their two runs. The other RBI came from Will Long, who pinch hit for Kyle Olasin in the eighth inning. He knocked a run-scoring ground rule double down the right field line in the eighth inning to score Tyler Benzel from second.

Chad Keefer and Tyler Benzel each went 1-for-4, while Matt Goulas went 1-for-3 and Will Long's 1-for-1 outing to round out the Cajuns' six hits.

Justin Robichaux again got saddled with a hard-luck loss, throwing seven innings without allowing an earned run. He finished the day on seven hits, three runs, none earned, on three strikeouts and a walk. The Cajuns' defense committed four errors behind him, the fourth game in the last five in which the defense has committed four errors.

In relief, Greg Harmon pitched two innings, allowing three hits to score one earned run despite two strikeouts.

In Robichaux's last six outings, including four starts (today, May 2 at East Carolina, April 25 at Troy, April 19 versus South Alabama) plus relief appearances on April 11 at ULM and April 14 versus Stephen F. Austin, he has now pitched 27 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The Cajuns' defense has committed 11 errors behind him to allow all 12 of the runs scored against Robichaux.

Robichaux's 1-3 record as a starter may be the best 1-3 record in the nation. In 24 innings pitched in four starts, Robichaux has allowed 23 hits, just two for extra bases, both doubles, while striking out 14 and walking just six. He has held opposing batters a .240 average at the plate.

WKU right fielder Chad Cregar scored in the second inning to start the scoreboard, after reaching on a fielding error by Greg Fontenot at short, coming around to score on a Kes Carter single.

The Toppers struck again in the fourth, this time for two runs, as a throwing error by Greg Fontenot extended the inning and a dropped fly ball by Alex Fuselier in left field allowed a pair to score on Matt Payton's would-be inning-ending fly.

The Hilltoppers kept the Cajuns bottled up until the bottom of the fourth, when Matt Goulas wiped away the no-hitter of Matt Ridings with a single up the middle.

UL would not score until the seventh, when Hawkins launched his record-breaking home run to bring the Cajuns within two at 3-1.

WKU responded with a run of their own in the eighth, taking one off of Greg Harmon as shortstop Terrence Dayleg singled in catcher Matt Rice from second to take the lead back to three at 4-1.

Louisiana tacked one more on thanks to Will Long's RBI double down the right field line in the eighth, scoring Tyler Benzel from second. The final score would stay there at 4-2 as the Ragin' Cajuns could not convert on Chad Keefer's leadoff double in the ninth.

The Cajuns finish the WKU series Sunday with a Mother's Day game at 11 a.m. NewsRadio 105.1 KPEL FM has the broadcast both over the air and at KPEL1501.com, and RaginCajuns.com will provide live video as well as live statistics.

NOTES

· Justin Robichaux pitched seven innings today without allowing an earned run, making it 27 straight innings without allowing an earned run.

· Scott Hawkins broke the Ragin' Cajuns all-time career home run record with his 40th blast as a Cajun in the seventh inning. He had been in a tie with Ron Robicheaux (1983-86) at 39 for the last 17 games.

· The four errors of the defense represents the fourth game in the last five in which UL has committed four errors.

LINE SCORE

WKU 4, Louisiana 2 (May 09, 2009 at Lafayette, La.)

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WKU................. 010 200 010  -  4 10  0      (37-12, 21-5)

Louisiana........... 000 000 110  -  2  6  4      (21-27-1, 10-15)

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Pitchers: WKU - Ridings, Matt; Carter, Bart(8). Louisiana - Robichaux, Justin;

Harmon, Gregory(8).

Win-Ridings, Matt(7-1)  Save-Carter, Bart(3)  Loss-Robichaux, Justin(1-3)  T-2:27  A-1558

HR UL - Hawkins, Scott (8).

Weather: 87, p.cloudy, winds S 10-20

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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