Astros College Classic

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HOUSTON — For Louisiana's baseball team, the Minute Maid Park College Classic is a preview of what the Ragin’ Cajuns hope will be a sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last seven years. At least, that’s what head coach Tony Robichaux is hoping for.

“We’re treating it like an NCAA Super Regional, where you’re trying to win two out of three,” Robichaux said, “or maybe like a regional and you’re trying to sweep it.”

Whichever they choose as an example, they’ll find the competition every bit as stiff as post-season opposition this weekend when the Cajuns face Alabama, Texas A&M and Baylor in the three-day tournament at Minute Maid Park.

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Louisiana strands nine runners in 9-3 loss to Alabama

HOUSTON- Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team opened play at the 2003 Astros College Classic here at Minute Maid Park on Friday morning with a 9-3 loss to Alabama in the first ever game between the two schools and the first game of the three-day weekend event.

Louisiana (2-3) opened the scoring in the top of the first with a two-out single by Phillip Hawke. Hawke the advanced to second on a balk by Alabama starter Taylor Tankersley (1-0) and scored from second after Rhett Buras hit a shot down the first base line that Alabama first baseman Zac Welch couldn't handle, giving the Cajuns the early 1-0 lead.

The Crimson Tide (1-0) responded with two runs off four hits in the bottom of the second inning against Cajun starter Andy Gros (1-1) to go up 2-1.

Louisiana sophomore Corey Coles broke out of an early 2-for-15 slump with a two-out solo shot over the right field wall to even the game in the third inning. The Lafayette native deposited a first-pitch from Tankersley into the right field second deck.

Alabama right fielder Beau Hearod hit a two-run homer off Gros in Alabama's half of the third inning to put the Crimson Tide up 4-2, a lead they would not relinquish.

The Cajuns picked up another run in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI infield single by Phillip Hawke scoring Dallas Morris from third, Hawke's sixth RBI on the season.

Alabama picked up another run in the sixth inning to give themselves a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh inning.

With the Cajuns threatening after a Corey Coles double to left field and a walk to first baseman Phillip Hawke Alabama replaced Tankersley on the mound with right-hander Brian Reed. Reed ended the threat by striking out Buras and Saloom in order, leaving both runners stranded.

Louisiana-Lafayette starter Andy Gros was replaced by right-hander Kraig Schambough after giving up a leadoff single. Schambough got Hearod to fly out to center, but gave up a two run homerun to Alabama left fielder Al Hecklinski giving the Crimson tied a 7-3 lead.

Alabama added two more insurance runs in the eighth off just one hit after Schambough hit the leadoff batter Evan Bush who later scored on a wild pitch. The second run of the inning came on a RBI double by Beau Hearod.

Taylor Tankersly picked up his first win of the season for Alabama after pitching six and one third innings, giving up seven hits and three runs (two earned). UL starter Andy Gros suffered his first loss of the year after yielding six runs on ten hits in six innings pitched.

First baseman Phillip Hawke continued to swing the hot bat for the Cajuns, going two for three with one run scored and one RBI in the loss. UL left nine runners stranded on base in the 9-3 loss. Louisiana will continue play at the 2003 Astros College Classic this Saturday against Texas A&M at 3 p.m.

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UL musters only three hits against Aggies

HOUSTON- Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team continued their recent offensive struggles in an 11-1 loss to Texas A&M (2-1) at the Astros College Classic here at Minute Maid Park.

Texas A&M starter Zach Dixon (1-0) held UL Lafayette (2-4) hitless until the bottom of the seventh inning when Cajun outfielder Corey Coles singled through the middle of the infield to leadoff the inning.

Texas A&M struck first against Cajun starter Jered Salazar (1-1) to open the fourth inning when Aggie third baseman Scott Beerer was hit by a pitch and stole second. Beerer scored on a two-out Brian Bowe single past a diving Brad Saloom at second. Aggie left fielder John Infante doubled off the left field wall scoring Bowe to give his team the early 2-0 lead.

The Aggies added another run off Salazar in the sixth after a leadoff walk to catcher Justin Pouk who advanced to second on a ground ball. Pouk scored on another Brian Bowe RBI single to knock Cajun starter Jered Salazar out of the game. Salazar pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits on three runs and three strikeouts.

Jordy Templet came on in relief for the Cajuns and induced John Infante to ground out to the shortstop to end the inning and hold the deficit at three.

The Cajuns finally got to Aggie pitcher Zach Dixon in the seventh with a leadoff single by Cory Coles who advanced to second on a balk by Dixon. Cajun cleanup hitter Phillip Hawke followed up with a single of his own to centerfield to put runners on the corners with no outs and get to the Aggie bullpen. Third baseman Scott Beerer came on in relief of Dixon.

Louisiana scored their first and only run of the game off Beerer when Corey Coles scored from third on a one-out ground out to first by Bryan Sneed. Beerer ended the damage by striking out Dallas Morris to end the
inning.

Texas A&M responded in the eighth with four more runs to add to their lead. Aggie outfielder Brian Bowe picked up his third RBI of the game on a single to right field. Shortstop Matt Alexander picked up two RBI on a single through the right side and right fielder Cory Patton added another RBI with a single of his own. Texas A&M increased their lead to 7-1 off four unearned runs.

The Aggies opened up the game against the Cajun bullpen by scoring four more runs in the ninth inning to put them ahead by a final margin of 11-1.

Aggie reliever Scott Beerer picked up the save by pitching three innings in relief and allowing only one hit and no runs. Zach Dixon picked up the win for Texas A&M after throwing six innings of two-hit ball and allowing only one Cajun runner to cross home plate.

Jered Salazar suffered his first loss of the season for UL Lafayette.

Matt Alexander and Brian Bowe led Texas A&M offensively with three RBI each. Phillip Hawke extended his hitting streak to five games for the Cajuns in a losing cause.

The Cajuns fall to the Aggies for the second straight year at the College Classic and are batting just .193 in six games to open the 2003 season.

UL will conclude play at the 2003 Astros College Classic at 3 p.m. Sunday against #10 ranked Baylor.

ULSI

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald

HOUSTON — The hits just keep on coming.

For the teams playing UL’s baseball team, that is. Certainly not for a Ragin’ Cajun squad that melted down for a third straight day Sunday in the Minute Maid Park College Classic.

This time, it was Baylor that took advantage of the struggling Cajuns, rolling to a 12-4 win to wrap up a weekend that saw UL outscored 32-8 in three games.

“We’ve seen this before,’’ said a disappointed Cajun coach Tony Robichaux. “We wanted to use this tournament as a measuring stick and see where we are, and I for one didn’t like the picture.’’

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