At 1-6, Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball is off to a slow start to say the least. Four of the six losses have come in opponent’s final at bat. In three games the Cajuns have scored three or less runs, two were lost in extra innings. So while they could have a few more wins, they also could also be winless. In their lone victory of the season, an 8-6 win over Texas, the Longhorns left the bases loaded in the 9th.
First, the Cajuns have allowed 43 runs this season. Regardless of when they scored or if they are earned (35 earned), giving up more than six runs per game isn’t going to cut it. But a deeper look shows where the issue lays; the bullpen. Opponents have scored 31 of the 43 runs against the Cajuns after the 6th inning. Even when the starters get stretched out a little more, Louisiana needs to figure out how to finish off the 8th & 9th innings.
Heading into the third weekend of the season, the Cajuns are still TBA for a Sunday starter vs Maryland That’s because the most logical choice, Austin Perrin, may need to come out of the bullpen on Friday or Saturday to preserve a victory. Nothing is more demoralizing to a baseball team continuing to lose games late.
If the Cajuns are going to turn this season around, and it’s still relatively early, the big jump will come from the bullpen. It’s need to come fast.