April 2, 2004

Murfreesboro, Tenn.-Extra innings would be needed to decide the contest as the bullpens for both clubs broke a pitcher’s duel open as Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns opened their Sun Belt Conference road schedule Friday night with a 6-5 win.

Kraig Schambough picked up the win throwing six innings of relief surrendering one run while striking out five. Schambough (4-1) allowed only one walk in his effort.

Eric Blevins took the loss going three innings and giving up the winning run in the 14th after striking out two.

Starting pitchers Kevin Ardoin and Chris Mobley combined to throw the first seven innings giving up two runs each. Ardoin fanned four while Mobley struck out ten, as both took no decisions in the game.

Chuck Akers dropped a single into left-center with one gone in the bottom of the first for Middle Tennessee; but Ardoin induced Jeff Beachum to hit in to a 6-4-3 double-play to end the inning.

Justin Bourque doubled to the gap in centerfield with one out in the inning, but the Cajuns could not convert as Mobley struck out the next two stranding the runner.

The Blue Raiders threatened in the second when Derek Phillips singled to center in the bottom before Marcus Taylor singled to right-center to put runners on the corners. Josh Archer grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

The Cajuns scored a run but stranded three in the top of inning three when Kevin Preau doubled down the leftfield line before Justin Merendino reached on a fielding error. Dallas Morris singled to the third baseman to load the pads. Phillip Hawke walked on a full count to pull the run across the plate for the Cajuns.

Eric McNamee singled up the middle for the Blue Raiders with one gone in the bottom of the third, but Ardoin would again get the batter to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Mobley allowed a single to Ryan Core in the fourth, but the Cajuns would be the team retired this time on the double play.

Ardoin struck out two Middle Tennessee hitters in the fifth retiring the opposing side in order.

The Raiders took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Chuck Akers doubled to right-center with one out in the inning. Akers advanced to third on a groundout to short and scored the tying run on a Brett Carroll single to left. Phillips singled up the middle. Advancing Carroll to second. Leftfielder Shane Kemp hit a seeing-eye single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.

Jason Rodriguez walked with one out in the top of the seventh stanza. Rodriguez advanced to second on a ground out to first before Preau walked on four straight offerings before Mobley recovered to retire the final out of the inning at the plate.

Josh Landry slapped a single back up to the mound that clipped Mobley on the leg. Raiders coach Steve Peterson elected to go to the bullpen bringing in Chase Swing as Mobley’s pain was affecting his delivery.

Dallas Morris greeted Swing with a bloop single that put runners on first and third with no outs. Danny Bourne came on in relief of Swing. Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux would counter with pinch hitter Brad Saloom who walked to load the bases. Justin Bourque earned an RBI when he was hit by an offering from the Raiders’ lefty. Ryan Core hit a sacrifice fly to left to plate Morris who represented the go-ahead run for Louisiana. Jason Rodriguez drove in Saloom with a one-out single up the middle giving the Cajuns a 4-2 lead.

Travis Horchel became the fourth pitcher of the inning for Middle Tennessee after Bourne allowed Rodriguez’s single. Horchel retired the next two Cajuns to get out of the frame.

Patrick Green came on in relief of Ardoin in the eighth and retired the Middle Tennessee side in order.

The Blue Raiders knotted the game in the bottom of the ninth as Phillips was hit by a pitch before Shane Kemp homered to tie the game at 4-4. Another Green offering plunked Marcus Taylor before Schambough entered the game to face Archer. Archer singled up the middle before Troy Harp bunted the runners over. Eric McNamee was walked intentionally. Schambough got Raiders’ hitters to ground into two fielder’s choices to get out of the bases loaded, one-out jam.

Rhett Buras singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch to third to start the tenth. Pinch hitter Leonard Guerrero singled to center to advance Buras to third. Horchel would pitch his way out of the inning holding the score at four runs each.

Landry drew a two-out walk and stole second in the top of the eleventh inning, but the Cajuns again could not convert with the runner in scoring position.

Troy Harp singled down the left field line with one out in the Raiders’ half of the eleventh.

Eric Blevins came into the game to throw in the 12th inning and would retire the Cajuns side in order.

Schambough put the Middle Tennessee side down in order in the bottom of the inning.

John Coker doubled to left-center and advanced to third on Micah Cockrell’s sacrifice bunt. Coker scored when Justin Merendino reached second on a fielding error giving the Cajuns a 5-4 advantage.

Kemp went deep again, this time in the 13th, for Middle Tennessee to tie the game at five.

Morris singled to short in the 14th inning before he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt that put Buras on first. Both runners advanced on another sacrifice bunt, this time by Bourque. Adam Massiatte was walked intentionally before Coker singled to left scoring the go-ahead run. Buras was called out at home on the throw, but the Cajuns would claim the one-run lead on the play.

McNamee singled to start the bottom of the 14th, but Schambough would retire the next three giving Louisiana the win.

The Cajuns and Blue Raiders will play again tomorrow at 2 p.m. before closing out the series here in Murfreesboro Sunday at 1 p.m.

UL Sports Information Release