Lafayette, La. – Zach Osborne struck out five batters over seven innings and Alex Fuselier drove in five runs to lead Louisiana to a 13-2 win over the Le Moyne College baseball team on Friday night at "Tigue" Moore Field.
The Dolphins opened the game by scoring once on two hits in the first inning, while also taking advantage of one Louisiana error. Sophomore right fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. Three batters later, sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Botsford to score.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered with four runs on two hits and one Le Moyne error in the bottom of the frame. Kyle Olasin walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher to open the frame. Matt Goulas was walked and Chad Keefer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jordan Poirrier then doubled down the right field line to drive in Olasin and Goulas. Following a pair of strikeouts, Fuselier singled up the middle to plate Keefer and Poirrier.
Le Moyne got one run back in the second inning on two hits. Freshman catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and moved to second on a single to right field by redshirt freshman third baseman Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse). Following a sacrifice bunt, Botsford singled to center to knock in Stinson.
Louisiana extended its lead to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the second. Greg Fontenot led off by drawing a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Olasin. After Goulas singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Fontenot was thrown out at home as Keefer reached on a fielder's choice. Following a passed ball that allowed Goulas to score, Keefer crossed the plate as Poirrier reached on a throwing error.
The Cajuns added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Tyler Frederick and Fuselier walked around a Le Moyne pitching change. After a fly out, Fontenot singled back to the pitcher to load the bases. Olasin then delivered a sac fly to score Frederick. In the fourth, Keefer and Lance Marvel doubled around a strike out by Poirrier. Frederick followed with a sac fly to plate Keefer.
Louisiana scored twice on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Keefer and Poirrier each singled to start the inning. Following a Le Moyne pitching change and a wild pitch, Marvel drew a walk to load the bases. After Keefer was forced out at home on a ball hit to the first baseman by Frederick, Fuselier singled up the middle to drive in Poirrier and Marvel.
The Cajuns closed out the scoring in the game by scoring three times on just one hit in the seventh inning. Fontenot walked and Olasin singled to begin the frame. After Fontenot was retired at third and Keefer flied out, Poirrier was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marvel was then hit by a pitch to force home Olasin. Following another pitching change by the Dolphins, Frederick drew a walk on five pitches to score Goulas, who reached base when Fontenot was retired. Fuselier drove in Poirrier with the final run by drawing a walk.
Osborne scattered six hits over seven innings, without allowing a walk, while striking out five to earn his sixth win of the season. Junior southpaw Cory Nelson (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) on three hits in two innings pitched. Botsford and Mahoney had two hits each for the Dolphins, while Olasin, Keefer, Poirrier and Fuselier each posted two hits for the Ragin' Cajuns.
Le Moyne (21-22), which went 1-2 in a three-game series against the Ragin' Cajuns during the 2005 season, continues its series with Louisiana on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. EST.
