The Hilltopper loss — coupled with Arkansas-Little Rock’s 12-4 win at Florida International — cuts WKU’s lead to a half game for the eighth and final spot in next week’s Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Hilltoppers either need a win, or a UALR loss to clinch a spot in the field.
The Hilltoppers (22-27, 5-17 SBC) took their first lead of the weekend in the third inning, when an RBI groundout by Corteze Armstrong plated Ben Cooper with the first run of the game. However, in the fourth inning Devery Van De Keere led off the inning with a walk, then came around to tie the game on a double by Jonathan Lucroy. Jeffries Tatford followed with a double of his own to give UL a 2-1 lead.
It remained a one-run game until the sixth when the Cajuns (36-18, 18-5 SBC) picked up a two-out run. With two outs in the inning, Tatford lifted a popup in the infield, but it was lost in the lights and fell in for a hit. After a wild pitch moved Tatford to second, he scored on a Josh Landry triple to stretch the lead to 3-1.
The Toppers had chances in both the seventh and eighth innings, getting doubles to lead off both frames. However, Cajun starter Buddy Glass was able to work out of both jams to preserve the two-run lead.
Glass gave the Cajuns a complete-game performance for the second straight day as he allowed just the one run on seven hits, while striking out nine Hilltoppers. WKU starter Liam Shanahan was equally as impressive, throwing all 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out three.
Armstrong and Newton each went 2-for-4 to lead the Hilltopper offense, while Tatford finished with two hits for UL.
The Hilltoppers and Cajuns will wrap up their series and the 2006 regular season on Sunday (May 20) with a 2 p.m. (CDT) first pitch.
