UL falls to #4 Rice

[NewsCopy]

 HOUSTON – The Ragin’ Cajuns kept it close through four innings with #4 Rice, but the national powerhouse struck for two three run innings to outduel Louisiana and take home a 7-2 victory over UL. The Cajuns fall to 22-28-1 overall with the loss.

Starting pitcher Greg Wilborn got off to a good start through four innings, striking out five and allowing just one run. It was in the fifth inning that the Owls began to figure him out, scoring three both then and in the sixth. Alex Fuselier inherited three of Wilborn’s runners with two outs in the sixth and allowed them all to cross before ending the inning. Wilborn finished 5 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs, all earned, on six hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. He took the loss, moving to 3-2 on the season.

Fuselier pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on two hits, no walks and no strikeouts. He was relieved for the bottom of the eighth by Corey Chapman, making his fourth appearance of the year. He faced three batters and allowed only a walk, but the runner was out on an inning ending double play on an infield line out, doubling Jeremy Rathjen off second base.

Matt Hicks was 2-for-2 in a start in his hometown, with one RBI. Tyler Benzel provided the other run with a sacrifice fly on 0-for-1 hitting with a sacrifice bunt.

After going down in order in the first, Les Smith doubled to the left field corner to become the game’s first base runner in the second inning. The frame ended before he could come around.

Rice plated the game’s first run after putting runners on the corners with two hits in the bottom of the third. Brock Holt grounded out to Hawkins at first, allowing Jeremy Rathjen to score.

Jon Masch led off the top of the fifth with his first extra base hit as a Cajun, a double off the left-center wall. Masch moved to third just ahead of the throw on a Matt Hicks single to deep short, and came around to tie the game at 1-1 on a Tyler Benzel sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Rice put two on board in the bottom of the inning for Brock Holt, who belted one just inside the right field foul pole to put the Owls back up 4-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Owls put up another three-spot to go ahead 7-1. With the bases loaded, Alex Fuselier entered and allowed a two-run single from Holt, his fifth and sixth RBIs of the night, and an RBI bunt single from Michael Fuda. All three runs were charged to Wilborn.

Matt Hicks got his first RBI of the year on a seventh inning double that split the left-center gap, scoring Greg Fontenot from first to bring the score to 7-2 in favor of the Owls.

The regular season wraps up with a weekend series starting on Thursday at UNO. The first game starts at 6:30 p.m. at Maestri Field in New Orleans. Thursday and Friday’s games will be carried on SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM and ESPN1420.com, while Saturday’s will broadcast on
NewsRadio 150.1 KPEL FM. Saturday’s game is also the Sun Belt Game of the Week on CST, and live statistics as well as live video will be available throughout the weekend on RaginCajuns.com.

UL SI

[HoustonCajun]

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Here is the Houston Chronicle article on the game.

Rice stumps UL-Lafayette

Holt, Rogers team up to lift Owls past Cajuns
By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
May 13, 2009, 12:14AM

It was like old times for the duo at Reckling Park on Tuesday night as they lifted the Owls to a 7-2 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. Holt racked up six RBIs — the most by an Owl this season. Rogers gave up just one run in 5 2⁄3 innings in the team’s regular-season home finale.

“I’m glad I could get him some runs so he could feel more comfortable up on the mound,” Holt said. “He was spotting his fastball real well today and throwing his slider, so I’m glad I could help my brother out.”

No. 4 Rice will end the regular season with a three-game series against UAB beginning Thursday. They will then head to the Conference USA championships in Hattiesburg, Miss., on May 20.

The Owls, who currently boast a one-game lead in the C-USA standings, won’t play again at Reckling Park until at least May 29 when NCAA regionals begin. A strong finish by the Owls will likely land them a top-eight seed in the NCAAs, which would secure them the opportunity to host regionals and super regionals.

For the Owls to make another run to the College World Series, Holt and Rogers will be needed. Against Louisiana-Lafayette, Rogers gave up four hits, one run and one walk Tuesday. He also struck out four batters.

For the season, he has a 7.34 ERA and a 3-1 record.

“I thought he did a pretty good job,” coach Wayne Graham said.

“We intended for Jared Rogers to be one of our four starters. He hasn’t evolved into that yet, but maybe he is on his way.”

Holt has a .341 batting average as the Owls’ leadoff hitter. He had two hits, including a three-run homer over the right field wall Tuesday. The homer gave the Owls a 4-1 lead they never relinquished.

“A lot of people thought Holt was the best infielder in junior college baseball last year,” Graham said. “We are fortunate to have him.”

megan.manfull@chron.com

[wcd35]

Rice stumps UL-Lafayette

Holt, Rogers team up to lift Owls past Cajuns
By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
May 13, 2009, 12:14AM
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This poor girl. What a terrible name to have

[CajunZ1]

_ This poor girl. What a terrible name to have _

LOL!!!