University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Nicholls State
Louisiana Completes Sweep of Nicholls
2/22/2010 3:30:00 AM | Baseball
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns collected hits and had plenty of baserunners in the first five innings and that led to a 10-1 victory over Nicholls State Sunday evening at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux.
With the win, Louisiana (3-0) completed the three-game sweep of the season-opening series with the Colonels (0-3). It's the first 3-0 start since the 2007 season.
UL broke free from the Colonels in the fifth inning after a four-spot increased their advantage to 8-1.
It all started when Greg Fonenot and Brian Bowman executed a double steal and Cody Dufrene's throw sailed high over Tristan Rogers at third base allowing Fontenot to score the fifth run.
Matt Goulas and Jordan Poirrier walked to load the bases then Chad Keefer took a first pitch offering from Josh Labiche and doubled down the left field line to score Bowman and Goulas and up the lead to 7-1.
Daniel Nichols' second sacrifice fly of the evening finished off the scoring and that's all the support Cajuns pitching would need.
The Ragin' Cajuns return home next weekend hosting Miami University at "The Tigue" Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28. Game times are 6 p.m., 2 p.m., and 11 a.m.
T.J. Geith picked up the win in his Division I debut for Louisiana. He worked five innings scattering four hits and striking out six.
Bowman was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and reached base all five plate appearances. Keefer led the way with three RBI and Nichols and Kyle Olasin each added two RBI.
Brent Bonvillian, a freshman making his collegiate debut, was saddled with the loss for the Colonels. He was charged with four runs and was hurt by a pair of walks and three hit by pitches in 3 2/3 innings.
The Cajuns took advantage of a fielding error by Nicholls right fielder Mike Barba in the first inning to claim a quick 2-0 lead.
Geith worked around a one-out single in his first Division I inning. He used only 14 pitches and faced the minimum thanks to Keefer catching Keith Kulbeth on a steal attempt.
Back-to-back, one-out hits from Kyle Bostick and Fontenot then a walk to Bowman loaded the bases in the Cajuns' half of the second. Bonvillian hit Goulas to force home the third run.
Louisiana chased Bonvillian from the game in the fourth inning. He tossed 90 pitches.
The Colonels scored the first earned run of the season off Cajuns pitching when Chase Jaramillo stole home in the bottom half of the fourth, cutting the Cajuns lead to 4-1.
Prior to Jaramillo's run the Cajuns pitching staff had worked 21 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
