UL Lafayette starter Corey Coles strikes out 12 Demon batters in loss

LOUISIANA Là - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team began a five-game homestand here Tuesday at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field hoping to solve their offensive woes and gain revenge after losing 11-2 against the Northwestern State Demons the previous week. Yet, the Cajuns offense failed to put any runs on the scoreboard in a 3-0 loss spoiling an overpowering pitching performance from Corey Coles (0-1).

With the loss, the Cajuns drop to 2-6 overall on the year and have now lost six straight games since a season opening doubleheader sweep of Southwest
Texas on Feb. 8.

Coles went the full nine innings in the loss and held the Demons to just three runs (none earned), on seven hits, while striking out 12 batters, a career high, and walking none.

Northwestern State struck first to open the second inning by scoring three unearned runs off Coles. With runners on first and second Demon third baseman Hunter Thoms reached on an error by shortstop Dallas Morris to load the bases. With the bases full of Demons and two outs leadoff hitter Josh Boop hit a triple down the left field line to give Northwestern State the
3-0 lead.

Coles held the Demons in check for the next seven innings, striking out the side twice until the Cajun bats threatened in the seventh inning against Demon starter Zach Sanches.

The Cajuns put runners on first and second following consecutive singles by Brad Saloom and Phillip Hawke. Left fielder Bryan Sneed was hit by a Sanches pitch to load the bases following a Kevin Preau strikeout. The Cajuns missed their best opportunity to score runs against Sanches when third baseman Kyle Broussard grounded into a double play to end the bases loaded threat.

Sanches retired the Cajuns in order in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win for Northwestern State and give the Cajuns their worst season-opening start since opening the 1993 season 1-7. With the win the Demons win their fifth game in a row and sweep the season series between the two in-state rivals.

Zach Sanches (1-1) threw a complete game shutout, striking out six and only allowing five Cajun hits all night. Corey Coles (0-1) loses his first start of the season despite not allowing any earned runs.

The Cajuns last lost six straight games April 11-19, 2000, but eventually went on to play in the College World Series that same season.

UL Lafayette will try to break out of their offensive slump Wednesday night when they host the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at 6:30 p.m. at Moore Field.

Jordy Templet (0-1, 1.93 ERA) is slated to start for the Cajuns, while SLU counters with redshirt freshman Brad Miller.

ULSI