Merendino Homers Twice In Cajuns Win Over WKU

March 26, 2004

LAFAYETTE- Justin Merendino homered twice in the game as Louisiana took Western Kentucky down to the wire winning 4-3 Friday night in the Cajuns’ Sun Belt Conference opener at Moore Field in Lafayette. UL goes to 15-7 on the season with the win.

After failing to convert a save opportunity, Kraig Schambough took the win throwing the ninth and allowing one hit on the three batters he faced. Schambough (3-1) entered the game in relief of Kevin Ardoin who pitched a strong game going eight innings allowing three runs on five hits while fanning six.

Greg Durr accepted the loss pitching the bottom of the ninth walking two and allowing the winning run to cross home.

Ardoin sat the Western Kentucky side in order in the top of the first and second innings.

Merendino hammered a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to start the bottom of inning one, giving Louisiana an early 1-0 lead.

Western Kentucky’s catcher Jordan Newton singled to right before scoring on a Matt Ransdell double in the top of the third.

Micah Cockrell singled to open the bottom of the third. Merendino moved him into scoring position with a bunt, but WKU starter Grady Hinchman would escape the inning without any run damage done.

Ardoin cruised through the top of the fourth getting a pair of ground outs to the infield before striking out one.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brad Saloom knocked a two-out flare into left, but Hinchman would again get out of the inning without surrendering a run in the inning.

The Toppers took the lead in the fifth when Marcus Page opened the inning with a single to right before stealing second. Dominic Rio laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third. Philip Thayer hit a sacrifice fly deep to right to score Page who was tagging up. The run gave the Hilltoppers a 2-1 advantage.

Matt Johnston reached second on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error before Tim Grogan walked putting Hilltoppers on first and second in the top of the sixth. It would be Ardoin to pitch out of the jam this time as he retired his next two to get out of the frame.

Dallas Morris bunted his way on with one away in the bottom of the sixth. Phillip Hawke drew a walk advancing Morris 90 feet. The Cajuns; however, could not secure runs as Hinchman retired the newt two batters to get out of the inning.

Ardoin worked his way out of the top of the seventh after surrendering a double to WKU’s Cary Page.

Coker walked and stole second with two gone in the bottom of the seventh before Merendino hit his second homerun of the night to give the Cajuns a 3-2 lead.

In the same inning, Josh Landry laced a single to right-center chasing Hinchman in favor of Michael Shope who got the last out in the stanza for the Hilltoppers.

Western pulled even in the top of the ninth as Matt Gunning walked to open inning for WKU before Schambough entered the game in relief of Ardoin. The Hilltoppers played small ball again to move the tying run over to second. Pinch hitter Antone Towns plated Gunning with a single up the middle knotting the game at 3-3.

Greg Durr came on to throw the ninth inning for WKU and promptly gave up a walk to Coker. Merendino bunted Coker over to second. Landry was issued an intentional free pass before Morris was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Coker scored the winning run, waltzing home on a wild pitch as Rhett Buras stood at the plate.

The Cajuns will play Game two of the weekend set at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow before wrapping up the conference opening series Sunday at 1 p.m.

UL Sports Information Release