Xavier Alexander entered the game to pinch run for Lucroy, when Scott Hawkins drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases.  Kolin Hatfield hit the first pitch he saw to first, but the Lamar first baseman mishandled the ball and allowed all the runners to advance safely.  Gisclair scored on the play cutting the deficit to just one run. 

The Cajuns once again put some speed on the bases as Dustin Miller entered the game to pinch run at second base for Hawkins.  A wild pitch tied the game and moved the runners up one base.  With two on and two out, William Long loaded the bases as he was struck by a pitch. 

Devery Van De Keere drew a four-pitch walk to bring Miller home from third base and give the Cajuns a 5-4 win. 

Matt Pilgreen (4-0) earned the win for the Cajuns.  The right hander worked 2.0 scoreless innings.  He entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs and worked his way out of the jam without allowing a run to score.  Pilgreen did not allow a hit in the game and fanned a pair of Lamar batters. 

Offensively, the Cajuns managed seven hits and had just one player collect more than one hit.  Gisclair collected a pair of hits on the night and scored a run. 

Hawkins had just one hit, but made it count.  The sophomore hit his eighth homerun of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Cajuns on the scoreboard. 

Lamar was the first team to scratch the scoreboard in the second inning.  Jeff Vickers led off the inning with a homerun to left field.  The Cardinals followed the homer with a single to third base.  The runner stole second base.  Starting pitcher Greg Wilborn struck out the next batter, but a double to left field just inside the line scored the second run of the inning.  A ground out moved the runner to third base.  A single scored the runner from third.  After a stolen base, a single plated the runner and an error by the Cajuns allowed the batter to reach third base.  The Cajuns went to the bullpen and brought in Gregory Harmon and he was able to retire the final out of the inning.  After an inning and a half of play the Cajuns trailed 4-0. 

The score remained 4-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning.  The Cajuns were able to cut the deficit in half.  Hawkins led off the inning with a homerun to right field.  The homer was Hawkins’ eighth of the season.  With one out in the inning, Long worked the count full and was able to draw the base on balls.  A groundout moved Long to second base and a Devon Bourque single to left field scored Long from second.  The Cajuns were unable to generate any more runs, but after six complete, UL had trimmed the lead to 4-2. 

The score remained 4-2 until the three-run ninth inning by the Cajuns. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action this weekend as they play host to Sun Belt Conference foe Western Kentucky.  The Cajuns and Hilltoppers will play a three-game series slated to begin at 6:30 on Friday, Apr. 6.  UL and WKU will play two televised game over the weekend.  Game two and three will be broadcast on My KLAF in Lafayette.  Game times for Saturday and Sunday’s contests are 2:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. respectively. 

-Ragin' Cajuns-