Lamar Downs Cajuns 6-5 In Ninth Inning

April 28, 2004

Beaumont, TX –The Cardinals put up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take tonight’s game away from a shortened Cajuns bench by a 6-5 final in front of 2,113 fans at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The Cajuns (25-16) fall for the second time this season by one run to Lamar (32-11). LU edged the Cajuns by a 4-3 score on March 23 at Moore Field.

Jeremy Collins walked Jeremy Grey to start the bottom of the ninth before being lifted for left-handed hurler Brandt Sanders. Sanders issued a walk to Foster putting runners at first and second. Ryan Finan drew a walk to load the bases with one gone in the bottom of the ninth.

Adrian Cantu plated the tying run on an RBI fielder’s choice that plated Grey running from third. The game-winning run came on a base hit down the third base line that scored Finan.

Sanders (1-3) takes the loss for Louisiana after being charged with one run on one hit and walking two of the five batters he faced.

Lamar reliever Jon Hunton (2-1) accepted tonight’s win throwing one and two-thirds innings, surrendering one run on three hits.

Jason Rodriguez drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the top of the first. Morris singled to right but the Cajuns couldn’t convert as Rodriguez was thrown out at the plate on the play.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Jordan Foster sacrifice fly ball that scored Rocky Craigen who started the bottom half of the opening inning with a double to the wall in center. The base runner took third on a groundout to the pitcher.

Louisiana starter Josh Kohrs settled in to sit the Lamar side in order in the bottom of inning two.

John Coker was hit with a pitch with one gone in the third before taking third on a Jason Rodriguez double to right-center. Brad Saloom battled back from a 0-2 count to draw a walk prompting Lamar skipper Jim Gilligan to go to the bullpen, bringing in Josh Harris to field.

A Morris sacrifice fly ball to left-center to score Coker, knotting the game at 1-1.

Harris retired the Cajuns in order in the top of the fourth.

Thad Montgomery came in to pitch in the bottom of the fourth.

Allen reached on an infield throwing error to start the bottom of inning four for Lamar. Allen took second on a groundout to Saloom at second base. A Montgomery offering in the dirt put Allen on third just before Ambort and Brett Winn each drew walks to load the bases.

Montgomery; however, came after Chase Richards striking him out on three pitches to end the inning.

Rodriguez singled and scored on a Saloom triple to the gap in right-center giving the Cajuns a 2-1 lead.

Bubba Olivier came on in relief of Montgomery in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Olivier surrendered a single up the middle to Craigen to start the inning before walking Foster to put runners on first and second. Finan snuck a single through the right side to score Craigen pulling the two teams even at 2-2.

The Cajuns threatened but could not take the lead in the sixth after pinch hitters Rhett Buras and Justin Morgan each singled to lead off the top of the inning. Brandon Montemayor reached base on a fielder’s choice after the Lamar defense caught the Cajuns lead runner on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The Cardinals got out of the jam on a pop foul and a second fielder’s choice.

Franco Cardinale walked the first batter he faced after entering the game in the bottom of the sixth.

A Brett Winn single and a pair of costly Cajuns errors helped both Cardinals base runners to score giving Lamar a 4-2 lead.

Coker led off the seventh with a single through the right side before swiping second base. New Cardinals pitcher Scott Vanderweg entered the game and struck out the side to end the inning.

Collins came out of the bullpen to work in relief of Cardinale in the bottom of the seventh.

Collins allowed a single, but recorded two strikeouts en route to sitting the Lamar side without allowing any further runs to score.

The Cajuns evened the score in the eighth after Buras led off the top of the frame with a single to right before Justin Morgan deposited a single into left-center. A throwing error put the two base runners on second and third.

Buras scored on a wild pitch that advanced Morgan to third. Designated hitter Brandon Montemayor singled in the runner to tie the game at four.

Hunton entered the game to pitch for Lamar after Josh Landry laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Montemayor to second. Coker singled to put runners on the corners. Hunton would get a fly out to left to end the inning holding the score at 4-4.

The Cajuns took over a 5-4 lead on a Buras triple to the wall in right-center after Saloom singled to open the ninth inning. Saloom was bunted over to second on a sacrifice off of Morris’s bat.

The Cajuns will return to Lafayette and prepare for a weekend conference series with the UNO Privateers. Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m. with Sunday’s series finale slated to start at 1 p.m.

UL Sports Information Release