The six game winning streak to open the season is the best start since the Cajuns started the 2001 season 6-0. 

The Cajuns scored 13 runs on 19 hits to cruise to an eight-run victory. 

Five Cajuns collected multiple hits in the game.  Nolan Gisclair led UL with four hits on the night, followed by Xavier Alexander and Devon Bourque who both posted three-hit nights. 

Gisclair finished the night 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI.  Alexander was 3-for-five on the night with a pair of runs scored, while Bourque finished the game 3-for-3 with three runs scored.  Bourque reached base in all four plate appearances. 

Starting pitcher Hunter Moody collected his first win of the season.  Making his first start of the year, Moody tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.  He walked a pair of runners, but also recorded three strikeouts. 

In the first inning, the Fighting Illini threatened.  In his first start of the season, Moody walked the first batter to give Illinois a baserunner.  Moody surrendered a hit, giving the Illini runners at first and second.  A line drive to short allowed Alexander to double up the lead off runner.  With two outs and a runner on first, Moody, induced a ground ball to second base to end the first inning threat. 

The Cajuns missed an opportunity to score runs early.  In the first inning, Alexander hit an infield single to extend his team-leading hitting streak to six games.  After Alexander stole second base, Gisclair singled to centerfield to give the Cajuns runners on the corners with no outs.  A groundout advanced Gisclair to second base, but a strikeout left UL with two outs and two runners on.  Jefferies Tatford walked to load the bases, but a fly ball ended the Cajuns chances to score. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns took the lead in the bottom of the second inning.  Scott Hawkins led off the inning with a single to right centerfield, just over the head of the Illinois second baseman.  Robichaux singled to right field.  Bourque attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt.  The Illini pitcher mishandled the ball, loading the bases for the Cajuns.  Three consecutive hits by Alexander, Gisclair and Lucroy plated three runners, giving UL a 3-0 edge.  After a lineout, Tatford was hit by a pitch to drive in another run.  With two outs, a throwing error extended the inning and allowed the Cajuns to plate two more runners.  At the conclusion of the inning, the Cajuns led 6-0. 

In the third inning, the Cajuns sent up nine batters to the plate.  Bourque led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield.  A fielding error allowed Alexander to reach safely and Bourque to move to second base.  A single by Gisclair pushed the first run of the inning across the plate.  Lucroy followed with an RBI single to left field scoring Alexander.  A groundout advanced the two runners into scoring position.  Tatford loaded the bases drawing his second walk of the night.  Hatfield was hit by a pitch to score the lead runner.  The Illini recorded the final two outs of the inning, but not before the Cajuns had extended their lead to 9-0. 

The Illini threatened in the top of the fourth inning.  After recording the first two outs of the inning, Moody hit the net two batters and walked the next batter to load the bases.  The Cajuns were bailed out by a piece of luck.  A pitch went behind the batter, but instead of a wild pitch, the ball ricocheted off of the backstop to Lucroy who flipped the ball to Moody for the final out of the inning. 

The Cajuns added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Bourque led off the inning with a single up the middle.  A deep fly ball advanced the runner to second base.  Gisclair hit an RBI double to give the Cajuns another run and increase the UL lead to 10-0. 

In the fifth inning, Tatford singled through the left side to get things started for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he was called out on a fielder’s choice which allowed Hatfield to reach first.  A double to right centerfield gave the Cajuns runners at second and third and a groundout plated the first run of the inning.  Bourque followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Hawkins and increase the UL lead 12-0. 

The Cajuns scored their final run of the night on a solo homerun by Blaine LaFleur.  The homerun was the second of the sophomore’s career and coinsenidently his second homer against a Big Ten opponent.  His previous homerun came against Minnesota on March 17, 2006, in his first official at bat. 

The Illini avoided the shutout as they batted around in the top of the ninth inning.  It was the first time all season that the Ragin’ Cajuns had allowed a team to bat around and the five runs scored by Illinois were the most the Cajuns had allowed in an inning. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns will continue the series on Saturday, Feb. 24.  Due to inclement weather in the Lafayette area, the Cajuns and Illini will attempt to play a doubleheader.  The first game of the twin-bill will be at 10:00 a.m. with the second game slated at the original time of 2:05 p.m.  Game two of the double dip will be televised on My KLAF. 

-Ragin’ Cajuns-