University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
LSU
Two-Out Barrage in the Fifth Buries Tigers
3/23/2011 2:00:00 AM | Baseball
Chris Sinclair's RBI single in the fifth inning broke a 3-all tie and was the first of four two-out hits for the Cajuns that produced six runs helping Louisiana pull away for an 11-5 victory over No. 11 LSU Tuesday evening at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Sinclair's single plated Lance Marvel to pull UL (10-10) ahead 4-3, answering a two-run frame from LSU (16-5) in the fourth inning which tied the contest and returning the momentum to the Cajuns.
The Cajuns weren't satisfied with reclaiming the lead. An RBI double by Jordan Bourque added the second run of the inning and then Greg Fontenot (single) and Jordan Poirrier (triple) each drove home two runs to increase the UL lead to 9-3.
The Tigers collected two runs back in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI double by Mike Lowery. Joey Satriano relieved UL starter Joe Zimmermann, got the final out and shut down the Tigers the rest of the way.
Mike Petello capped off a banner night of hitting for the Cajuns when he launched a two-run home run off of LSU closer Matty Ott in the eighth inning which provided the game's final tally.
Louisiana, coming off a 16-hit performance Sunday vs. La.-Monroe, rapped out 15 Tuesday evening to mark the first occurrence of back-to-back games with double figures in hits this season.
UL now looks to carry the momentum to a weekend Sun Belt series in Jonesboro, Ark., against Arkansas State. The Cajuns and Red Wolves open the three-game series Friday at 6 p.m., in Tomlinson Stadium.
Satriano collected the win, tossing the final 4 1/3 innings and holding the Tigers to two hits.
Fontenot led the Cajuns offensive charge going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBI. It was his second four-hit game of the season (March 1 vs. Southern). Alex Fuselier, Petello and Marvel also had multi-hit games for UL whose 15 hits off of LSU were tied for the most allowed by the Tigers this season.
Joe Broussard was charged with the loss for LSU, his first of the season. Broussard was responsible for three earned runs including the run scored by Marvel on Sinclair's go-ahead hit in the fifth.
Louisiana improved to 4-2 in midweek games and a perfect 4-0 on Tuesdays. LSU dropped its first midweek game of 2011.
A two-out RBI single through the left side by Petello gave UL a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Petello's hit plated Fontenot who singled earlier in the inning and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Tyler Jones.
The Cajuns threatened for more as Marvel floated a single to shallow right center to move Petello to third base. Jones caught Daniel Nichols reaching at a pitch out of the zone to prevent further damage.
Tyler Frederick and Sinclair drew walks off of Jones to start the second inning and a Bourque sacrifice bunt moved both 90 feet closer. Broussard, who relieved Jones, was greeted by an RBI single by Fuselier and the Cajuns lead grew to 2-0.
Broussard induced fly outs from Fontenot and Poirrier to keep the Cajuns from extending the lead.
LSU got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the second on a leadoff home run by Mason Katz. Zimmermann bounced back, retiring the next three Tiger hitters to end the frame.
Louisiana reclaimed a two-run advantage in the third inning. Petello led off with a walk, moved to third on a Marvel double to deep center field and scored on a groundout to shortstop by Nichols.
The Tigers pulled even in the fourth inning taking advantage of a hit by pitch and Zimmermann walk to gain free baserunners. RBI singles by Watkins and Rhymes plated the equalizing runs for LSU.
Sinclair jumpstarted the Cajuns two-out barrage in the fifth inning and that was enough breathing room for Satriano.
BASES NOTED: The Cajuns 15 base hits marked the second consecutive game with double figure hits, a first this season...It was UL's sixth double figure hit game of the season...The Cajuns 11 runs are the most allowed by LSU pitching in 2011...Entering the game the Tigers were allowing less than four runs per game...Louisiana snapped a two-game losing skid to the Tigers and improved to 2-1 in the "new" Alex Box Stadium...UL finished the game with a season-high in two-out RBI, posting seven...For the 52nd straight outing the Cajuns pitching staff held the opposition to single runs...Louisiana finished the game 7-of-16 in two-out situations...The Tigers five runs marked only the sixth time this season in 20 games that an opponent reached the five-run mark...The Cajuns bullpen has now worked 73 1/3 innings this season and held opponents to 17 runs and 56 hits.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
