University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Nicholls State
Robichaux & Cajuns Ease by Nicholls
2/21/2010 1:05:00 AM | Baseball
Paced by the arm of Justin Robichaux and fueled by the bats of Chad Keefer and Jordan Poirrier Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns moved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-2 victory over Nicholls State at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field Saturday afternoon.
Robichaux, who ended last season with a 0.71 ERA in his six starts, picked up where he left off from last season on the mound. The senior hurler threw seven innings of four-hit ball while striking out six. He threw only 88 pitches.
Keefer and Poirrier, hitting fourth and fifth in the lineup, combined to go 5-of-7 at the plate with 5 RBI.
The Ragin' Cajuns would have had the shutout if not for a two-out error in the ninth inning that led to two unearned runs for the Colonels (0-2).
The two teams wrap up their season-opening series on Sunday at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux. Game time is set for 6 p.m. UL's T.J. Geith makes his collegiate debut on the mound and will face a starter to be named for Nicholls.
Louisiana got on the board in their half of the first inning. Keefer delivered a two-out double into the left center gap to score Matt Goulas who began the rally with a walk.
The Cajuns gave Robichaux all the breathing room he would need with a three-spot in the third inning.
Brian Bowman led off with a double to left center then Alex Fuselier was hit by an offering from Nicholls starter Clint Dempster. Two at bats later, Poirrier cashed in with a two-RBI single that scored Bowman and Fuselier for a 3-0 lead.
Keefer later doubled home Poirrier to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Robichaux gave up no more than one hit per inning the rest of his outing and the Cajuns defense turned double plays in the fourth and fifth innings.
Randall Bulliard relieved Robichaux and worked a perfect eighth and had a perfect ninth inning going until a two-out error by Poirrier allowed Chase Jaramillo to reach base and keep the Colonels at bat alive. Back-to-back base hits occurred spoiling the Cajuns chance at the shutout.
The Ragin' Cajuns posted their 12th consecutive victory over the Colonels at "The Tigue" and have now won 12 of the past 15 meetings in the all-time series.
On Sunday, Louisiana goes for its first 3-0 start to the season since 2007. That season UL began 10-0.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
