STARKVILLE, Miss. — For the third straight time, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns opened up an NCAA Regional with a loss.
Cincinnati busted open a tied 1-1 game in the fourth by scoring five runs in the frame, which sparked the Bearcats to a 12-2 victory over the Ragin’ Cajuns in the Starkville Regional at Dudy Noble Field on Friday night.
The last time Louisiana opened an NCAA Regional by winning its first game was the 2022 College Station Regional, when the team beat TCU in the opening round.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana got its first runner on the base paths as Noah Lewis drew a one-out walk in the top of the first inning. Lee Amedee laced a single into right field, but Cincinnati’s right fielder was unable to field it cleanly. The error allowed Lewis to score from first, and Amedee advanced to third.
The Ragin’ Cajuns looked primed to add more runs, but Colt Brown got on with a fielder’s choice, as Amedee was caught in a rundown. Cincinnati’s Nathan Taylor got Drew Markle to ground out to end the inning.
Cincinnati tied the game in the bottom of the second when Jack Natili took Cody Brasch deep over the left field wall for a solo home run. The Ragin’ Cajuns starter settled down and got the next two batters out to get out of the inning.
In the fourth, the Ragin’ Cajuns had a great chance to add more runs.
Brown and Markle drew walks to start the inning. Donovan LaSalle then hit a ball to the warning track, which allowed Brown to tag up and advance to third. While that was happening, Markle tried tagging up to go to second but was thrown out. Louisiana skipper Matt Deggs challenged the call, but it was upheld. Steven Spalitta grounded out to end the threat.
Cincinnati seized the lead in the bottom of the frame as Natili hit a one-out double, and then Enzo Infelise took Brasch deep over the centerfield wall. Cal Sefcik then hit a single and stole second. Christian Mitchelle then laced a triple to right-center that plated Sefcik. Charlie Niehaus then launched a pitch from Brasch and put it over the left field wall.
Cincinnati added to its lead in the fifth with a solo home run by Ryan Tyranski, and then a two-run home run by Natili. The Bearcats added another run in the sixth with an RBI single by Quinton Coats.
The Ragin’ Cajuns pushed a run across in the top of the seventh as Maddox Mandino hit a two-out single down the left field line that scored LaSalle.
The Bearcats added to their lead in the bottom of the eighth on another Natili home run, this one a two-run shot.
BIG NUMBER I: 4
Louisiana starting pitcher Brasch entered the game having given up five home runs all season and had not given up more than two earned runs twice. That changed Friday as he gave up four home runs to the Bearcats.
BIG NUMBER II: 3
The Ragin’ Cajuns had three base runners thrown out in the first four innings. Amedee was caught in a rundown between third and home in the first, Spalitta was caught stealing second base in the second, and then Markle got thrown at second on a deep fly in the fourth.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: JACK NATILI
Cincinnati’s catcher was a force at the plate as he went 4-for-5, with four runs, five RBI, three home runs, and a double.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (39-24) will face Lipscomb (29-24) in an elimination game on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.