University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Louisiana-Monroe
Cajuns One Win Away From SBC Title
5/22/2010 4:00:00 AM | Baseball
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns completed a doubleheader sweep of La.-Monroe at Warhawk Field in Monroe with a 10-4 victory Friday evening and are now one win away from claiming at least a share of the 2010 Sun Belt Conference regular season championship.
Louisiana improved to 20-9 in Sun Belt play and remained tied with Florida Atlantic - also 20-9 in Sun Belt play with a win over FIU - for first place in the SBC standings.
The Ragin' Cajuns (36-18, 20-9 Sun Belt) and Warhawks (17-37, 7-22 Sun Belt) wrap up the series and regular season Saturday at 6 p.m. FAU plays FIU at 12 p.m. (CST), therefore the Cajuns will know if they are playing for a share of the league title or an outright championship before arriving at Warhawk Field.
Alex Fuselier gave the Cajuns the lead for good in the fifth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Fuselier ripped a double into right center field scoring Jordan Poirrier from third base to break a 3-all tie.
Tyler Frederick, who walked and was on first base, moved to third base and scored on a throwing error by La.-Monroe right fielder Perry Smith.
Fuselier moved to third base on Smith's error and scampered home as Justin Robichaux followed with a single to right center and it was 6-3 Cajuns. A two-out double by Kyle Bostick would allow Robichaux to motor from first base and increase the lead to 7-3.
Louisiana added to the lead in the sixth inning when Chad Keefer ripped his second home run of the game (third of doubleheader). A Poirrier double before Keefer's long ball made it a two-run shot and upped the Cajuns lead to 9-3.
A bases loaded groundout by Poirrier in the seventh inning brought home the Cajuns' 10th run of the game.
That was more than enough support for T.J. Geith who limited La.-Monroe to just five hits over 7 1/3 innings and collected his sixth victory of the season. Geith did not allow a base hit from the third through sixth innings and at one point retired 13 of 14 Warhawks' hitters he faced.
Keefer led the Cajuns offensive output with four RBI. He clubbed two home runs to increase his team-leading total to 15.
Fuselier finished 3-for-4 and was one of five Cajuns with multiple hits. Louisiana pounded out 15 base hits, getting 12 off of La.-Monroe starting pitcher James Jones.
Louisiana began the game with three consecutive base hits. Singles by Kyle Olasin, Matt Goulas and Poirrier led to a quick 1-0 lead. Keefer lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Goulas and increase the advantage to 2-0.
The Warhawks began the bottom of the second inning with a bunt single from Jarrett Hammond and Casey Auttonberry drew a walk.
After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third, Taylor Abdalla cranked a three-run home run over the left field wall and La.-Monroe jumped in front 3-2.
Keefer's first home run of the game and second of the doubleheader came with one out in the top of the third and evened the score at 3-all.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
