University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
McNeese State
Cowboys Claim Extra Inning Contest
4/20/2011 2:30:00 AM | Baseball
An error in the bottom of the eighth inning led to five unearned runs for McNeese State which tied the game at 6-all and forced extra innings, then in the 11th inning Renny Weber doubled home the winning tally as the Cowboys stunned Louisiana 7-6 Tuesday in Lake Charles.
The loss marked the third straight for Louisiana (20-17) and first on Tuesday this season (now 7-1).
It was a tough no-decision for Jordan Nicholson who pitched 7 2/3 innings and held the Cowboys (19-20) to one run and five hits over the first seven frames.
Nicholson came back out for the eighth inning with a 6-1 lead and retired the Cowboys' leadoff hitter. Jace Peterson beat him to first base on a high chopper then Lee Orr reached on a fielding error by Tyler Frederick to put two aboard.
The second out was recorded as Seth Granger filed out to center field, but a two-out single by Weber scored a run, prevented Nicholson from completing the inning and started the Cowboys rally.
An RBI single Nick Eubanks and three-run home run by Kyler Crenshaw off of reliever Blake Wascom knotted the score.
In the bottom of the 11th inning three straight one-out hits off of Randall Bulliard was capped off by Weber's game winner.
Louisiana plays the final game of the current stretch of 10 out of 11 on the road on Wednesday in Baton Rouge at Lee-Hines Field against Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Cajuns had excellent scoring chances in the first two innings against McNeese starter Zach Butler, but came away empty stranding five baserunners in the process.
Butler would strike out Lance Marvel with runners on second and third in the first inning and with the bases loaded in the second inning induced a grounder from Greg Fontenot to second base to escape another jam.
Nicholson made quick work of the Cowboys in the first two frames, needing just eight pitches each time.
McNeese was able to get the lead runner on base in the third inning and it resulted in the game's first run. Matt Williams singled to left center, a sacrifice bunt moved him to second then a passed ball by Michael Strentz advanced him to third base. A Blake Ellender grounder to second base plated Williams for a 1-0 lead.
Dustin Lloyd followed Butler and kept the Cajuns off the scoreboard in the third and fourth inning and like Butler left after throwing his scheduled two innings.
In the fifth inning the Cowboys relievers couldn't hold the lead. Alex Fuselier drew a leadoff walk - the first of nine Cajuns to step to the plate in the inning - and the wheels were put in motion for a Cajuns rally.
Fontenot gave himself up to sacrifice Fuselier over and every one was safe as reliever Jaden Dillon chose to catch Fuselier at second base but was unsuccessful.
Jordan Poirrier made Dillon pay for his decision as he followed with a double to left center to score Fuselier and Fontenot to put UL in front 2-1.
Poirrier scored on a Dillon wild pitch upping the lead to 3-1. Three consecutive walks issued with one out loaded the bases for UL then Frederick lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Marvel with the fourth run of the frame.
Nicholson held the Cowboys in check allowing only two hits - both in the seventh inning - over the next three innings. Louisiana added single runs in the sixth and seventh inning to stretch the lead to 6-1.
BASES NOTED: The Cajuns and Cowboys played for the 146th time, tying the UNO series for the most-played series in school history...Jordan Nicholson tossed 102 pitches in 7 2/3 innings and did not have an inning in which he reached 20 pitches...Nicholson had three innings of single digit pitches....Jordan Poirrier finished 3-for-5 to extend his current hitting streak to six games...UL turned a double play with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, increasing the string of consecutive games with a double play turned to six straight games.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
