University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
Free Passes Jumpstart ASU Rally in Game 1
3/27/2011 7:00:00 PM | Baseball
Arkansas State took advantage of two free baserunners in the fourth inning to score three runs and pull ahead, and then added seven additional runs over the final four frames to claim an 11-7 victory over Louisiana in game one of a Sunday doubleheader at Tomlinson Stadium-Kell Field in Jonesboro, Ark.
Cajuns starting pitcher Jordan Nicholson created the mess himself in the fourth inning by walking Logan Uxa and hitting Anthony Hecht to start the frame, giving the Red Wolves two runners on with no outs.
That led to run scoring hits from Michael Faulkner and Zach George, the latter a two-RBI single that broke a 2-all tie.
ASU (12-12, 2-3 Sun Belt) extended the lead to 7-3 after six complete, then it seemed as though Louisiana (11-11, 2-3 Sun Belt) would launch another comeback on the Red Wolves.
Mike Petello pulled the Ragin' Cajuns within one run in the top of the seventh inning when he delivered a three-run home run over the center field wall. That shot sliced the ASU lead to 7-6.
The Red Wolves would hold on to their lead as a Todd Baumgartner RBI single in the bottom of the seventh made it 8-6 and a four-hit effort in the bottom of the eighth inning plated three additional runs - all runs with two outs - to stretch the hosts lead to 11-6.
Jordan Poirrier's second home run of the contest, which came in the ninth inning, provided the Cajuns final run of the game.
With the win ASU evened the weekend Sun Belt series setting up a winner-take-all series finale in game two of the Sunday doubleheader. The rubber match of the series was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. featuring UL's T.J. Geith and ASU's Brad Allen on the mound.
Petello led Louisiana with three RBI. Lance Marvel continued his torrid pace at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 at the plate which upped his season batting average to .393.
ASU was led by three RBI apiece from Faulkner and George. Faulkner went 4-for-4 and moved to 8-for-10 in the weekend series.
The Red Wolves 11 runs marked the first time that UL allowed double figure runs since April 4 at FIU (L, 6-15) and snapped a string of 53 consecutive games holding opponents to single digit runs.
Jacob Lee picked up the win for ASU despite allowing a season-high five earned runs (entered the day having allowed only seven earned runs in 33 1/3 innings). Nicholson was charged with the loss after he was charged with four runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
Nicholson stranded three ASU runners in the first inning and was on his way to stranding another pair in the second inning, but an error allowed the Red Wolves to scratch the game's first run.
The error, committed by Poirrier, allowed Hecht, who reached on a one-out double and moved up to third on a Dustin Jones fly out to score and put ASU up 1-0.
Poirrier atoned for his miscue by hitting a no-doubt solo home run over the right field wall in the fourth inning. It was the first homer allowed by Lee this season and evened the score at 1-all.
The next three Cajuns hitters reached base and Tyler Frederick drew a bases loaded walk to push across the second run of the inning. Lee prevented UL from extending the lead by notching strikeouts of Chris Sinclair and Jordan Bourque
UL's lead was short-lived, however, as the Red Wolves responded with the three spot in their half of the fourth inning.
BASES NOTED: Jordan Poirrier's home runs marked his third and fourth of the season and 16th and 17th of his career...The error by Poirrier in the second inning ended a string of three consecutive games without an error by the Cajuns defense...Poirrier recorded an extra base hit for the fourth straight game and has now collected 16 extra baggers in 2011 (out of 23 total hits)...Louisiana posted its fourth consecutive game with double figure hits dating back to the La.-Monroe series finale...The Cajuns have pounded out 55 hits in the last four games (13.8 hits per game).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
