NEW ORLEANS ? Louisiana-Lafayette came into its crucial Sun Belt Conference series at New Orleans statistically ranked as the worst offensive team in the league.
The Ragin' Cajuns sure haven't looked like it during the weekend's first two games.
ULL (24-28-1, 13-15 Sun Belt) pounded out 14 hits and used a five-run fifth inning en route to a 12-5 win at UNO on Friday afternoon at Maestri Field.
Chad Keefer went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, and Greg Fontenot and Kyle Bostick each had three hits as the Cajuns clinched a spot in next week's Sun Belt Tournament.
The Cajuns have combined for 22 runs and 28 hits in the two weekend contests.
The offense made a winner out of junior right-hander Justin Robichaux (2-3). Robichaux, the son of Cajun head coach Tony Robichaux, tossed seven innings and allowed just five hits and two runs.
The only negative for ULL was Robichaux allowed his first earned run in 30 innings ? spanning seven appearances (five starts).
“We have done a good job of getting ahead of their hitters but we just haven't put them away,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “We just have to do a better job of executing.”
Nick Schwaner went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Privateers (22-32, 12-17), while Jay Morris had two hits and scored two runs.
The back-to-back losses have put UNO in a precarious position for next week's league tournament. The Privateers, though, can still clinch a berth with a win on Saturday.
“I told our guys our season is down to one game now,” Walter said. “We seem to play better when our backs are against the wall, so I know we'll have a lot of energy (Saturday). We just have to be prepared to play nine solid innings.”
ULL jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings thanks to five hits off UNO starter Joe Zimmermann (3-4).
After UNO got two runs in the fourth ? keyed by an RBI single from Jerad Comarda to snap Robichaux's streak ? the visitors put it away.
The Cajuns plated five in the fifth and got five straight hits off UNO pitching. Zimmermann was pulled after 4 2/3 innings, as the freshman right-hander gave up a season-high 10 hits and 10 runs (eight earned).
The two teams will wrap up the series at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised live on Cox Sports Television, as well as Comcast Sports Southeast.
