Battle of UL: Cajuns play host to Warhawks

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Nolan Gisclair stood there, doing his best to deal with the pain. After breaking a bone in his left hand two weeks ago sidelined him for five games, Gisclair returned to UL's lineup last weekend against Middle Tennessee State wearing a brace.

On Tuesday the senior outfielder made his first home start in nearly a month against Northwestern State, tying career highs in hits (three), home runs (two) and RBIs (four) in a 9-2 win.

Gisclair's career night was not without its setbacks. He got hurt again, this time injuring his right wrist while sliding into second base on a steal attempt in the fifth inning of Tuesday's win.

Like a true gamer, Gisclair played through the pain.

"(The pain) is not too bad," said Gisclair, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year. "On warm nights like (Tuesday) it feels good. It just hurts occasionally."

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/SPORTS/804110335/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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Gisclair missed Wednesday's 14-8 win over McNeese State but is expected to return tonight as the Cajuns open a three-game Sun Belt series against ULM for Alumni Weekend at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. Tonight's first pitch is set for 6:30 against the first-place Warhawks (20-11, 12-3 SBC).

Senior Hunter Moody is listed as the probable starter for sixth-place UL (16-15, 7-8). The left-hander is 5-2 with a Sun Belt-best 2.39 ERA this year. On Saturday, Moody tossed eight innings of two-run ball against Middle Tennessee State for his 27th career win, becoming the program's all-time wins leader.

Over the first half of the season the Cajuns struggled with half of last year's run production gone and 22 newcomers. They have turned it around recently, winning 10 of their last 13 games to move over .500 for the first time since February.

The key to this year's turnaround is obvious. Cajun pitching has been the team's strongpoint all year, leading the Sun Belt in team ERA (4.61). No conference team has allowed fewer hits, runs and walks this year.

But the offense has been another story. Through the first 18 games, preseason Sun Belt favorite UL was hitting .223 with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs. In the last 13 contests, the Cajuns are hitting .282 with 17 homers and 77 RBIs.

UL coach Tony Robichaux said the hitting success of players like Gisclair makes other Cajuns hit well, too. After hitting around .200 earlier in the year, Gisclair is now hitting .293 with six homers.

"That travels and it's contagious," said Robichaux, who needs two wins to become the first Cajun coach to reach 500 in a career. "Early in the year he was struggling and that was contagious, too. Now he's on track.

"That's definitely going to help us take the pressure off other hitters in the lineup."

Coming into tonight, UL has pounded out at least 10 hits in their last four games - all wins. In Wednesday's win, the Cajuns set season highs with 14 hits and five homers. Sophomore Jordan Poirrier delivered the biggest hit as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, smacking a three-run shot to give the Cajuns the lead for good.

The improved hitting has been a big help for the Cajuns, last in the Sun Belt this year in hitting and fielding. They have committed a Sun Belt-worst 32 errors in conference play.

In contrast, ULM (20-11, 12-3) has thrived after being picked to finish eighth in the preseason conference poll. In conference play, the Warhawks top the Sun Belt in runs scored (125) and hits (177) and are tied for second in homers (25).

Their 19 double plays are the most in conference action as ULM pitchers try to keep the ball on the ground and rely on their defense to make plays behind them. Their 5.31 team ERA is second only to the Cajuns.




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Originally Posted by NewsCopy

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I am really disappointed in the Advertiser referring to this as the Battle of ULs. I am surprised it didn't say ULL vs. ULM, which is the same thing. What it should have said is "UL vs. ULM". This is just indicative of how far we still have to go in this rediculous name battle that Dr. A put us in. I only hope it is a priority of Dr. S to get this corrected. We can't get the right kind of recognition in Lafayette, certainly not around the state much less around the country. While the Advertiser does use UL and Louisiana just about exclusively when referring to our university, it is articles like this that perpetuate the controversy.

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Originally Posted by Sugar Land Cajun

_ I am really disappointed in the Advertiser referring to this as the Battle of ULs. I am surprised it didn't say UL vs. ULM, which is the same thing. What it should have said is "UL vs. ULM". This is just indicative of how far we still have to go in this rediculous name battle that Dr. A put us in. I only hope it is a priority of Dr. S to get this corrected. We can't get the right kind of recognition in Lafayette, certainly not around the state much less around the country. While the Advertiser does use UL and Louisiana just about exclusively when referring to our university, it is articles like this that perpetuate the controversy. _

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All you have to do is look at the videos that Mycoskie posts here, and the fact that he does the games on TV. Some people know what their customers want, and do what they can to give it to them. they embrace the position they're in. Others either intentionally choose not to embrace it, or they're just so anal that they have to follow all the rules, or they just don't really care and are just finding a place that will pay the bills until the next job offer comes along.

I will say this about Parrott, I liked his articles from the beginning because it was a change in style from Dan McD. Not that I didn't like Dan's style, but it was something fresh. Over time, people have taken issue with him for certain things, including this (and I don't know if the DA's writers write their own headlines or not) and other things. but I think that most of the gripes that people have are with Gannet and DA management, and have little to do with Parrott. I'm not sure what his angle is, or what his intentions are, but if you are going to be a beat writer for a certain team, you should definitely report all the facts, good or bad. But I also think that you should go the extra mile and submerse yourself in your beat. I don't think Parrott does a great job of that.

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Originally Posted by rhineaux

All you have to do is look at the videos that Mycoskie posts here, and the fact that he does the games on TV. Some people know what their customers want, and do what they can to give it to them. they embrace the position they're in. Others either intentionally choose not to embrace it, or they're just so anal that they have to follow all the rules, or they just don't really care and are just finding a place that will pay the bills until the next job offer comes along.

I will say this about Parrott, I liked his articles from the beginning because it was a change in style from Dan McD. Not that I didn't like Dan's style, but it was something fresh. Over time, people have taken issue with him for certain things, including this (and I don't know if the DA's writers write their own headlines or not) and other things. but i think that most of the gripes that people have are with Gannet and DA management, and have little to do with Parrott. I'm not sure what his angle is, or what his intentions are, but if you are going to be a beat writer for a certain team, you should definitely report all the facts, good or bad, but I also think that you should go the extra mile and submerse yourself in you beat. I don't think Parrott does a great job of that.

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The "Reports" twins, Wire and Staff are head and shoulders the best tag team we have ever had......and I mean that with all sincerity. :cool:

Z

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Originally Posted by rhineaux

_ All you have to do is look at the videos that Mycoskie posts here, and the fact that he does the games on TV. Some people know what their customers want, and do what they can to give it to them. they embrace the position they're in. Others either intentionally choose not to embrace it, or they're just so anal that they have to follow all the rules, or they just don't really care and are just finding a place that will pay the bills until the next job offer comes along.

I will say this about Parrott, I liked his articles from the beginning because it was a change in style from Dan McD. Not that I didn't like Dan's style, but it was something fresh. Over time, people have taken issue with him for certain things, including this (and I don't know if the DA's writers write their own headlines or not) and other things. but I think that most of the gripes that people have are with Gannet and DA management, and have little to do with Parrott. I'm not sure what his angle is, or what his intentions are, but if you are going to be a beat writer for a certain team, you should definitely report all the facts, good or bad. But I also think that you should go the extra mile and submerse yourself in your beat. I don't think Parrott does a great job of that. _

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I was thinking that since Gannett owns both the Lafayette and Monroe newspapers, there may have been inside pressure to play down the Louisiana vs. ULM issue, notwithstanding the Advertiser's singular use of UL in all other reports. They didn't go so far as to say ULL vs. ULM (I know the ULL doesn't show up here as the second L is automatically deleted), but rather implied reference to both UL & city tag schools.

I just think that since UL Monroe has formally adopted the ULM moniker, it is time to step up and declare us as UL. We have informal use of UL by the media and fans locally and our athletic department is getting bolder in using Louisiana and UL (although mixed with Louisiana Lafayette) in its press releases. Whe Dr. S takes over, I hope he makes it a priority to formally address this issue.

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Originally Posted by rhineaux

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I will say this about Parrott, I liked his articles from the beginning because it was a change in style from Dan McD. Not that I didn't like Dan's style, but it was something fresh. Over time, people have taken issue with him for certain things, including this (and I don't know if the DA's writers write their own headlines or not)

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I believe Foote had mentioned before the that writers do not write the titles. I for one think Parrott has done a fine job with what is allowed to do.

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Originally Posted by rgncjn12

I believe Foote had mentioned before the that writers do not write the titles. I for one think Parrott has done a fine job with what is allowed to do.

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This is the only headline (in all of its glorious permutations) I really care about right now and that should be our main concern:

"Cajuns beat ULM"

Lather, rinse, repeat AND then one more time for the SWEEP!!!