Baseball: Fuselier’s gem lifts UL past Houston

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • March 4, 2009

Alex Fuselier’s mid-week pitching debut turned out to be a huge success for UL.

Making his second collegiate start, Fuselier silenced Houston’s bats Tuesday night in a 6-1 win at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

Fuselier, a Teurlings Catholic grad, earned his first collegiate win after throwing seven strong innings. The freshman left-hander scattered seven hits, allowed only one unearned run and struck out five.

"What I like about him is that he’s done this all fall," UL coach Tony Robichaux said. "He’s got a knack for keeping people from squaring the ball up on him. He’s got good deception. He changes speeds back and forth, and he’s not scared.

"That’s the definition of a good pitcher."

While Fuselier shined on the mound, UL (3-5-1) also benefited from Houston’s numerous defensive mistakes. The Cajuns scored four runs on three Cougar errors to pick up their second consecutive win despite getting out-hit eight to four.

Fuselier combined with reliever Blake Haagen, who allowed one hit in the final two innings, to shut down Houston (2-7). The Cougars stranded 10 runners and have now lost five in a row.

"We were just trying to get ahead of hitters, throws strikes and keep the ball down," said Fuselier, who also went 1-for-2 with one run scored at designated hitter. "You’ll win games if you do that."

UL started the scoring after Fuselier hit a lead-off single in the first inning. It was the third time in four games he opened with a lead-off hit. Two batters later, Travis Whipple laced an RBI double to right center to score Fuselier for a 1-0 lead.

The Cajuns added two more runs in the second on Brian Bowman’s RBI single and a Houston throwing error.

That provided all the cushion Fuselier needed.

In the fourth, UL scored on another Houston error. The Cajuns extended their lead to 6-0 with two more runs on an error in the fifth.

Houston scored its only run on an error by UL first baseman Scott Hawkins in the sixth.

Fuselier, who earned a no-decision in a 5-5 tie to Nebraska on Feb. 22 after giving up four runs in six innings, rebounded and closed out the sixth and seventh. Haagen iced the Cougars in the final two innings to seal it.

UL returns to the field tonight at 5 against Texas Southern in a game free to the public. The Cajuns will give the start to either sophomore righty Randall Bulliard or redshirt freshman righty Blake Wascom.

After talking about his tremendous outing, Fuselier expressed appreciation to be playing for his hometown school.

"You can’t expect anything at this level," said Fuselier, who signed with UL over Southern Miss. "When you get your opportunity, you’ve got to come up big. I feel blessed to be here and to be playing early.

"I didn’t expect it."

NOTES

UL finished with more runs than hits for the first time since a 14-8 win at McNeese State on April 9, 2008. In that game, the Cajuns had 14 runs and 13 hits … UL still trails the all-time series against Houston, 35-11-1. The Cajuns play at Houston on March 24 … UL center fielder Kyle Olasin went hitless in his two at-bats on Tuesday. The junior college transfer had been only a late-inning defensive replacement due to preseason hand surgery coming into the night … UL shortstop Greg Fontenot saw his seven-game hitting streak end with a 0-for-4 night. The sophomore drove in one run … Coming into Tuesday, Houston had lost four in a row – all to top 10 teams.