University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
ASU Rallies, Takes Tourney Opener From UL
5/27/2010 3:30:00 AM | Baseball
Arkansas State erased a three-run deficit with a five spot in the fourth inning and answered each comeback attempt by Louisiana to hold on for an 8-6 win in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament opener for both squads Wednesday evening at Reese Smith Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
A double by Todd Baumgartner, hit by pitch in an at bat to Murray Watts and walk issued to Ryan Emery loaded the bases and began the fourth-inning rally by the Red Wolves (29-26).
Five consecutive base hits off the bats of Jordan Castaldo, Kyle DeGrace, Josh DeMoney, Zach Maggio and Michael Faulkner vaulted ASU into a 5-3 lead.
The Cajuns (37-19) got a run back in the fifth inning. A one-out double by Tyler Frederick was followed by an Alex Fuselier single to left allowing Frederick to score.
The Red Wolves countered with a solo home run by Giovanni Garcia in the sixth inning to reclaim a two-run edge, 6-4. A leadoff home run by Murray Watts in the seventh inning increased ASU's lead to 7-4.
Back-to-back singles gave the Cajuns runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh. A Fuselier fielder's choice grounder scored Frederick and dropped the deficit to 7-5.
The teams swapped single runs in the eighth and the ASU advantage remained two runs.
Ross Humes retired Louisiana in order in the ninth inning to close out the upset win for ASU.
The loss drops Louisiana into an elimination game at 12:30 p.m., on Thursday against the loser of the day one finale between Middle Tennessee and Troy.
Dayton Marze was charged with the loss for the Cajuns. After one-hitting the Red Wolves through three innings, he ran into trouble as ASU put up the five spot.
Andy Ferguson collected the victory on the mound for ASU, tossing 7 2/3 innings and holding the Cajuns to six runs despite surrendering 13 base hits.
Frederick had a three-hit game for the Cajuns. Fuselier and Kyle Bostick each posted two RBI.
Jordan Poirrier put the Cajuns on the scoreboard with a solo shot over the left field wall. It was his third home run this season off of Ferguson.
UL added to the lead in the second inning with a RBI single from Bostick and squeeze bunt from Olasin. Bostick's hit scored Justin Robichaux who reached on a throwing error and Olasin's bunt plated Greg Fontenot who was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Bostick's hit.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
