April 18, 2004

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-A three-run fifth frame, highlighted by Jason Rodriguez’s second homerun of the series, coupled with Jered Salazar’s masterful control of the strike zone paved the way for the Cajuns’ second win of the weekend as they take the series from the Trojans of UALR by an 8-4 final. The Cajuns move to 24-11 on the season overall and 8-3 in Sun Belt Conference play with the victory.

The Cajuns pulled ahead in the fifth when John Coker reached on a two-base error to start the inning. Justin Merendino reached first and advanced Coker to third on a sacrifice bunt. Rodriguez’s homer drove in three, giving the Cajuns a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez’s longball exited the playing area over the wall in straightaway center, the deepest spot in the park.

Jered Salazar picked up his second win in as many Game three starts for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Salazar (3-2) pitched seven and two-thirds innings
surrendering three runs on six hits while fanning six Trojans.

Bennett Cromer (3-5) lost the game for UALR being touched up for four runs on five hits through the first five innings five innings.

Cromer worked a full count to the first two batters of the game and got the strikeout on both before Justin Bourque drew a walk. Cromer got Dallas Morris to groundout to third to retire the Cajuns in the top of the first.

Rhett Hubbard hit a lead off triple to start the bottom of the first for
Arkansas-Little Rock. Matt Spatafora picked up the RBI on a groundout to second.

Cromer and Salazar sat the opposing sides in order in the second inning.

In the top of the third, Micah Cockrell tied the ballgame at one with a solo homerun that left the yard over the wall in left. Cockrell’s fourth bomb of the season was his second of the weekend.

Chris Becker lined a one-out single up the middle before advancing to second on an Aaron Haefele single through the right side. With the two Trojans on, Salazar induced the four-six-three double play off the bat of catcher Joe Petrino to end the inning.

Salazar sat the Trojans 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth.

Coker doubled down the line in left to open the sixth prompting Trojans Head Coach Brian Rhees to make a call to the bullpen and bring in right-handed freshman Scott Yant.

Justin Merendino pushed a sacrifice bunt down the first base line to advance Coker to third, but the new pitcher for UALR would get out of the jam without allowing the run to score.

The Cajuns got a lead off single from Morris in the seventh. Core made it a 6-1 game with a homerun to the power ally in left-center.

Cockrell singled to left and stole second with two away in the same stanza before Coker picked up his seventh hit of the weekend series with an RBI single. Merendino doubled in Coker with a drive that touched the wall in left center.

Dustin Turner came on in relief of Yant who got the final out of the inning. The Trojans added three runs on four hits and a wild pitch in the bottom of the eight. Kevin Ardoin came on to work in the inning with two gone. Ardoin gave up a pair of singles and threw a wild pitch that scored a run before settling in strikeout Haefele swinging.

Ardoin sat the Trojans in order in the bottom of the ninth as the Cajuns
take two of three in the series.

The Cajuns will travel back to Lafayette this evening and prepare for a
mid-week showdown with Tulane at Zephyr Field in New Orleans. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

UL Sports Information Release

Coupled with UNO's and USA's loss today, we sit atop the Sun Belt once again!!!!

GEAUX CAJUNS!!!

with a 3 game lead keep it going Cajuns