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Louisiana began their title defense of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship by facing fifth-seeded Texas State, a team the Cajuns swept two weeks ago. After a three-run homer from John Taylor, a two-run double from Julian Brock, and a one-hitter from the Cajuns pitching staff, Louisiana advances in the winners’ bracket with a 6-1 win over the Bobcats.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Texas State started the game by loading the bases and threatening to score. However, Louisiana starter Jackson Nezuh slammed the door shut on the Bobcats, giving his offense an opportunity. Kyle DeBarge got things going for the Cajuns with a double buried into the left field corner before taking third on a wild pitch from Levi Wells. However, a steal attempt at the plate ends the inning and keeps the game scoreless.
After three innings of back-and-forth defense, John Taylor puts a crooked number up for Louisiana with a three-run shot to right field to put the Cajuns in front 3-0.
In the fifth, a bases-loaded base hit from Julian Brock scored CJ Willis and Kyle DeBarge, but Connor Higgs was ruled out at the plate on a very close call that ended the inning, but not before Louisiana took a 5-0 lead in the contest.
After two walks and a single loaded the bases for Texas State, the Bobcats were able to put their first run on the board when Davis Powell grounded into a double play to make it 5-1.
Kyle DeBarge got on in the seventh via a walk. Then the all-conference shortstop swiped second to put another runner in scoring position on the night for the Cajuns. Carson Roccaforte brought the runner on a double to right field to make it a five-run lead for Louisiana at 6-1.
BIG NUMBER: 1
Louisiana was able to hold Texas State to just one run on one base hit in the 6-1 victory for the Cajuns.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jackson Nezuh/Cooper Rawls
Between both pitchers, the Louisiana defense walked a total of eight batters but struck out ten, including a career-high nine from Nezuh.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will return to the 7:30 p.m. time slot on Thursday night to face top-seeded Coastal Carolina at Riverwalk Stadium.