April 23, 2004

MIAMI, Fla.-Brian Aragon hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning, taking game one of the series from Louisiana by a 3-2 final at University Park. The Cajuns fall to 24-13 overall with the loss with a 9-4 conference mark.

Kevin Ardoin took the loss surrendering three runs on eight hits through eight and one-thirds innings in the outing. Ardoin (4-2) fanned five in the losing effort.

Danny Hernandez notched the win facing and striking out one Cajuns hitter.

The Cajuns put up two runs early as Justin Merendino chopped a base hit to third and Josh Landry walked to start the game. A Justin Bourque single through the left side loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored Merendino before Phillip Hawke drew a walk to juice the base pads once again.

Worrell walked in a run when Brad Saloom drew a free pass to earn an RBI.

The Panthers cut the UL lead in half in the bottom of the second. Yahmed Yema doubled down the line in right to start the inning. Fernnie Alvarez was issued a walk to put two runners on. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners. A Michael Lopez sacrifice fly scored Yema.

Ardoin sat the Golden Panthers in order in the bottom of the third.

The Panthers got three hits in the fourth, but the Cajuns would hold their hosts at bay as Ardoin got a double play and a ground ball to the infield to get out of the jam.

FIU pulled even in the bottom of the sixth when P.J. Lehmann singled to left and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Yema drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Alvarez tied the game with an RBI single up the middle. Yema on third attemten to tag up and score on a fly out to left, but Saloom, making his first start of the season in left field, gunned the runner down at the plate

The Cajuns put two on with two outs in the top of the eighth but couldn’t put any runs on the board.

Ardoin fanned a pair an got a groundout to third to sit the Panthers side in order in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Landry singled up the middle to start the ninth. Landry took third on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error that put Morris on first. Landry was thrown out at the plate on a field’s choice. Pinch hitter Jason Rodriguez walked to load the bases.

New Panthers pitcher Danny Hernandez took the hill and struck out the last batter of the inning to hold the score at 2-2.

Aragon hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth to claim game one of the series.

The Cajuns and Golden Panthers will play again tomorrow at 12 p.m. CDT with Sunday’s game also set for a 12 p.m. CDT start-time.

UL Sports Information Release

Looks like the Cajuns left the bats in Lafayette when they took off to go to Florida. :mad: