April 7, 2004

LAFAYETTE-Fans were treated to an extra-inning come-from-behind Ragin’ Cajuns victory over the Demons of Northwestern State Wednesday night at Moore Field in Lafayette

Josh Landry shoved a single through the right side of the infield with the bases loaded in the 11th inning scoring pinch runner Adam Massiatte with the game-winning run as Louisiana completed the comeback to take the contest by a final of 5-4.

Solid relief efforts from Brandt Sanders and Kraig Schambough helped the Cajuns improve to 19-9 on the season.

Schambough got the win on the hill for Louisiana throwing the final five outs without surrendering a hit. Sanders relieved starter Jeff Morgan scattering three hits and one run over six and one-thirds innings.

The Demons benefited from leadoff hits in the first and third innings to claim a 3-0 lead after three complete.

Tigger Lyles led off the game sending the first offering from UL starter Jeff Morgan into right field. Michael Palermo then sacrificed Lyles over to second with a bunt down the third base line.

Lyles later stole third and was brought home on a groundout to shortstop Micah Cockrell by Josh Boop for a 1-0 lead.

Bandon Morgan, who drew a one-out walk before Boop’s grounder, advanced to second on the grounder. Bobby Barbier then lifted a single up the middle into center field that scored Morgan with the Demons’ second run of the first frame.

Boop created havoc for the Cajuns in the third, belting a double deep into the right field corner that allowed Brandon Morgan to round third for a 3-0 lead. Morgan reached base on a fielder’s choice after Palermo led off the inning with a single into left field.

Boop’s hit was the Demons second of the third and fifth through the first three frames off of Jeff Morgan. Brandt Sanders relieved Morgan in the fourth inning and kept the Demons at bay.

NSU starter Rusty Jones kept the Cajuns hitters off balance through the first four innings, giving up just one hit – a two-out double by Brad Saloom in the bottom of the first.

After Sanders gave up a solo home run to Palermo in the top of the fifth, the Cajuns got the run back with a solo shot from Kevin Preau in the bottom half cutting the Demons lead to 4-1. The home run was Preau’s first of the season.

Sanders continued his solid relief effort into the sixth inning. The Cajuns lefty struck out the first two batters of the inning and induced a grounder from Jeff Martin to keep the deficit at three runs.

The Cajuns continued to work their way back into the contest scratching for two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when Dallas Morris launched a rocket shot over the left field wall for a two-out home run that cut the Demons lead to 4-3.

Saloom drew a one-out walk to set up Morris’ eighth blast of the season. Morris’ home run came after Phillip Hawke went down looking in the at bat before.

After stranding two runners in the seventh and eighth innings, the Cajuns finally broke through with the tying run in the ninth inning.

Saloom led off the Cajuns half of the eighth with a walk. The Cajuns lost a golden opportunity in that inning when Phillip Hawke failed to execute the sacrifice bunt. Hawke’s attempt popped up to a diving Hunter Thoms.

A single up the middle from Dallas Morris gave the Cajuns runners on first and second, but John Coker would strike out looking and Ryan Core flied out to right field to end the threat.

A perfectly executed sacrifice in the ninth inning led to the Cajuns scoring the tying run that sent the contest into extra frames.

Pinch hitter Justin Bourque led off the Cajuns ninth with a single into center field. Kevin Preau, who homered in the fifth inning, laid down the sacrifice bunt that moved Bourque into scoring position at second base.

Justin Merendino paid dividends on the next at bat when he pushed a single through the hole of the left side of the infield that allowed Bourque to score and tie the game at 4-4.

Merendino took second base on the throw from left field and moved over to third when the throw from Palermo sailed over the catcher’s head allowing Merendino to advance.

UL ran itself out of the possible winning run when Merendino attempted to take home after a throw from NSU catcher Jeff Martin sailed behind the third base bag. Thoms was quick to recover at third and was able to punch out Merendino at the plate for the second out.

Louisiana will be back in Sun Belt action this weekend, playing host to the Aggies of New Mexico State. Friday night’s game will start at 6:30 p.m. with Saturday’s televised matinee set to go at 2:05 p.m. The Cajuns and Aggies will go again on Easter Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

I stayed until the bottom of the 8th because I had to get home and finish some stuff for a project (I know bad excuse to miss the end of the game). We couldn't hit NSU's pitchers last night. When we did, it was right at a fielder. But a win is a win, not matter how you win. So I'll take the W.