University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Western Kentucky
Cajuns Drop Close One to Toppers
5/15/2010 2:30:00 AM | Baseball
Matt Ridings carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Western Kentucky did just enough to hold on for a 2-1 win over Louisiana Friday evening at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
The Ragin' Cajuns (32-17, 16-9 Sun Belt) had the tying run on second base with no outs in the ninth, but Ridings posted a strikeout and reliever Rye Davis picked up a strikeout and fly out to capture the victory for the Hilltoppers (33-18, 14-11 Sun Belt).
The loss ended Louisiana's school record 12-game conference winning streak. It was the Cajuns first Sun Belt Conference defeat since Sunday, April 4 at FIU.
The two teams will play the middle game of the series Saturday at 6 p.m. T.J. Geith will take the mound for the Cajuns and Shane Cameron toes the rubber for the Toppers.
Ridings lasted 8 1/3 innings and held UL to just two hits while fanning eight. He outlasted Louisiana's Zach Osborne who pitched seven innings, scattered six hits and also struck out eight.
The Cajuns finally broke through on Ridings with two outs in the seventh on a Lance Marvel single to shallow center. After Ridings hit Alex Fuselier, a single into left field by Justin Robichaux scored Marvel and cut the lead to 2-1.
Joey Satriano, who relieved Osborne in the eight, retired all six WKU hitters he faced to give UL a chance in the ninth.
Chad Keefer drew a leadoff walk to give UL a baserunner in the ninth and pinch runner Brian Bowman stole second to move into scoring position.
The comeback wasn't meant as in succession Ridings and Davis struck out Tyler Frederick and Marvel then Fuselier flied out to center.
Even with the loss the Cajuns are still tied for second in the SBC due to South Alabama's loss to FIU.
Osborne escaped a jam in the first inning after a leadoff walk and single. A pair of strikeouts which surrounded a fielder's choice grounder retired the Hilltoppers.
The leadoff hitter reached for the second straight inning for WKU when Casey Dykes was hit by a pitch to start the second inning. The Toppers cashed in two batters later when Jake Wells delivered an RBI single to left field.
A pinch hit single to left field by Kory Petri in the third inning scored Matt Rice who drew a one-out walk and upped the WKU lead to 2-0.
BASES NOTED: Western Kentucky won for the fifth time in the past six meetings...Friday's loss was just the seventh in 28 games vs. WKU at "The Tigue"...Justin Robichaux posted his 12th two-out RBI of the season in the seventh inning...Sixty-seven percent of Robichaux's RBI (18 total) have come with two outs...The Cajuns No. 1-4 hitters finished a combined 0-for-14...Zach Osborne turned in his 11th quality start of the season...Joey Satriano made his team-high 20th appearance...It was Satriano's fourth straight outing without an earned run allowed...Kyle Olasin extended his team-leading stolen base total to 18 with a swipe in the third inning.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
