Louisiana at La. hosts the 3rd Mardi Gras Ball Baseball Classic this weekend at the "Tigue"

LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns are off to their best since 1994 and the best under head coach Tony Robichaux after a 6-2 win over Nicholls State here Tuesday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. In 1994, Louisiana at La. (7-0) began the season 13-0 before losing to Northwestern State 10-5 on March 8.

Under Robichaux, the Cajuns' previous best start was 6-0 in 1996 and 2001.

UL starter Jered Salazar (1-0) received the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings. Salazar allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking one. Micah Cockrell earned his first save of the season, going 1 2/3 innings. Cockrell allowed three hits, while striking out one batter.

Nicholls State (3-4) starter Bryan Meyers (0-1) got the loss, going three innings. Meyers allowed five runs on eight hits, while walking two batters.

Each team notched a run in the first inning. Bubba Bell's two-out single plated Michael Roberts to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead. The Cajuns evened the score with John McCarthy's RBI single that scored John Coker.

UL added three more runs in the second, increasing its lead to 4-1. Shortstop Jameson Parker led the inning off with a double to left centerfield. Jefferies Tatford plated Parker with an RBI double to right field. Tatford advanced to third on a Justin Morgan sacrifice bunt. Tatford then scored on a John Coker double down the left field line. Coker stole his second base of the game, before scoring on a Josh Landry sacrifice fly. Justin Merendino flied out to end the inning.

Phillip Hawke drew a lead off walk in the third inning. Hawke was then thrown out at second on a McCarthy fielder's choice. McCarthy was later thrown out, attempting to steal second base. After a Dallas Morris walk, Parker singled through the right side, advancing Morris to second. Tatford scored Morris with an RBI single. Morgan lined out second base to end the inning.

After being held scoreless for four innings, the Colonels added a run to cut the Cajuns' lead to 5-2. Roberts singled to centerfield and was later caught stealing. With two outs, Anthony Hatch doubled to right centerfield. Bell then singled up the middle, plating Hatch. Jose Higuera singled through the right side, advancing Bell to second.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Hunter Moody relieved Salazar with two outs in the sixth. Manny Davila struck out looking to end the inning.

In the seventh, Moody retired the first two batters before getting into a bit of trouble. With a 1-2 count on Josh Thomas, Moody walks him on three straight pitches. Roberts singled through the right side, advancing Thomas to second. Roberts later advanced to second and Thomas advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tim Daigle walked to load the bases, but Hatch flied out to center to end the inning, getting Moody out of the jam.

Cockrell relieved Moody in the top of the eighth inning with one out. Cockrell's last (and only) appearance on the mound for the Cajuns came on March 10, 2004, against, coincidentally, Nicholls State. Salazar was also the starting pitcher that night.

Moody went 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits while walking two with one strikeout.

Tatford led the Cajuns at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Landry, Merendino, McCarthy and Parker each had two hits in the game.

Five Colonels had two hits at the plate. Bell led the way for Nicholls State, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.

It was the fifth time the season that the Cajuns have registered at least 11 hits in a game.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns return to action this weekend when they host the 3rd Mardi Gras Ball Baseball Classic. On Friday, the Cajuns will host Marist College at 6:30 p.m. The Cajuns will face Miami (Ohio) at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Texas State on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Sunday's game will be televised on KLAF-TV Channel 17 in Lafayette.


LOUISIANA SI