University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
ASU Ends UL's Title Game Chances
5/27/2011 8:00:00 PM | Baseball
Andy Ferguson's complete game, four-hit shutout helped seventh-seeded Arkansas State upset third-seeded Louisiana on Friday afternoon in Pool B play of the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Warhawk Field in Monroe.
The 3-0 victory by the Red Wolves (26-31-1) dropped the Ragin' Cajuns (31-26) to 0-2 in the tournament. Louisiana was eliminated from championship game contention and had their SBC Tournament losing skid extended to six games.
UL will wrap up play in the tournament with a 7 p.m., contest against FIU on Saturday. Jordan Nicholson (5-2, 2.36) will take the mound and he'll be opposed by FIU's Daniel DeSimone (5-2, 3.67 ERA).
ASU scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, a double on a 3-2 count with two outs and the runner going on contact in the sixth inning and a bases loaded walk that led to an unearned run in the eighth inning.
The Cajuns, playing without head coach Tony Robichaux who was suspended for his ejection in the tournament opener on Thursday, managed only four hits off of Ferguson and struck out 11 times.
Senior pitcher T.J. Geith turned in a stellar performance on the mound holding the Red Wolves to three runs (two earned) on seven hits over seven solid innings of work. Due to the lack of run support he was forced to leave Warhawk Field with a loss dropping his record to 6-5.
Senior shortstop Greg Fontenot turned in a 2-for-4 effort at the plate to notch his 20th multiple-hit game of the season - his third consecutive season with 20-plus multi-hit games. His two hits upped his season total to 69 which leaves him one hit shy of a third straight season with 70 hits.
Ferguson became the second pitcher in as many days to toss a complete game against the Cajuns doing so on 131 pitches. In the tournament opener on Thursday, South Alabama's Garrett Harris went the distance on 137 pitches.
Both teams traded scoreless frames through the first two innings before the first scoring threat was recorded.
ASU began the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff single by Dustin Jones who was sacrificed to second base by Michael Faulkner. Zach Maggio then singled to center field to give the Red Wolves runners on the corners.
Geith wiggled out of trouble as he fielded a half-swing grounder off the bat of Ryan Emery to throw out Jones at home. He then struck out Todd Baumgartner on three straight pitches to end the inning.
A leadoff infield single and stolen base by Ryan Leonards in the Cajuns half of the fourth inning gave UL a threat of their own. Ferguson used back-to-back strikeouts of Fontenot and Mike Petello to reach two outs then after pitching around Jordan Poirrier notched a lineout from Lance Marvel to end the inning.
ASU broke through with the game's first run in the fifth after Faulkner tripled and scored on a Geith wild pitch.
UL had runners on the corners with two outs in the top half of the sixth, but Ferguson was able to induce a grounder from Poirrier to keep his shutout intact.
In the ASU half of the sixth, Zach George worked a full count with two outs and Baumgartner on first base. With two outs Baumgartner was running on the pitch and that helped him score when George ripped a double down the left field line.
Ferguson made the lead hold as he retired the final nine Cajuns he faced.
The final tally came in the eighth inning when Randall Bulliard issued a bases loaded walk to Tyler Smith.
BASES NOTED: Louisiana and Arkansas State met in the Sun Belt Tournament for the second straight season and sixth time overall...ASU now holds a 4-2 edge in Sun Belt Tournament meetings...With Tony Robichaux suspended by the Sun Belt Conference for his ejection from Thursday's game with South Alabama, assistant coach Anthony Babineaux served as acting head coach for the game...For the ninth consecutive game the Cajuns starting pitcher held the opposition to three earned runs or less...The pitching staff's ERA has been lowered 23 points from 3.96 to 3.73 since the 13-3 loss to Troy on May 8...In 13 1/3 innings of work this season vs. Arkansas State, T.J. Geith limited the Red Wolves to six runs (five earned) on 13 hits...With a back injury still bothering Alex Fuselier, the Cajuns moved Mike Petello to center field and started Daniel Nichols in right field...Ryan Leonards started at third base and hit in Fuselier's leadoff spot...Leonards' stolen base in the fourth inning upped the Cajuns' Sun Belt-leading total to 77 and gives them two more than FIU...UL pitching held the opposition to five runs or less for the 39th time in 57 games and for only the 12th time the squad was defeated...In the last 89 games, which dates back to April 6, 2010, UL has held the opposition to single digit runs.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
