Louisiana got a stand-out pitching performance led by David Christie. However, Coastal used ninth-inning heroics and some miscues by the Cajuns in the eleventh to win an extra-inning game on Sunday at Russo Park and clinch the series. Teddy Sharkey led the relief effort for Coastal as the top-ten ranked Chanticleers secured an important series victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana turned to right-hander David Christie in the finale against Coastal. Coach Deggs’ approach of using an all-hands-on-deck approach had its most traditional baseball-like feel on Sunday, as Christie was effective and worked the deepest of any starter the Cajuns used over the weekend.
The Chanticleers would get on the board early, as it was a solo home run from Caden Bodine in the top of the first that got the scoring going. That, however, would be the extent of the early offense, as both Christie and Coastal starter Riley Eikhoff were sharp in their starts.
The Cajuns evened things up in the bottom of the fourth. Heath Hood reached on a one-out single and was brought home by Conor Higgs, who doubled into the gap in left-center. That made things 1-1, which is where they would stay until the bottom of the sixth inning.
In that inning, Louisiana loaded the bases with no outs. Facing reliever Jack Billings, Carson Roccaforte grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, which scored a run. That is all the Cajuns would get in the inning, and that left the score 2-1 Louisiana.
Blake Marshall came in to relieve Christie in the seventh inning and went the rest of the way. He put up two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. However, Nick Lucky hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the ninth to tie things at 2-2.
Brendan Moody pitched a scoreless tenth for Louisiana. However, Coastal manufactured a run in the top of the eleventh. A leadoff walk was moved over to third via a passed ball and a wild pitch. Derek Bender delivered a sacrifice fly to bring in the eventual game-winning run for the Chanticleers.
Teddy Sharkey pitched the final four innings in relief to get the victory for Coastal. He navigated the middle of the Cajuns’ lineup in the eleventh to close things out.
BIG NUMBER: 2
The Cajuns held one of the nation’s best hitting teams to just three runs on Sunday. However, the offense only provided two and it was not enough as they fell in extra innings.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Teddy Sharkey
Sharkey was excellent out of the bullpen for the Chanticleers. He worked four scoreless innings in relief as Coastal got the comeback victory.
UP NEXT: The Cajuns do not have a midweek game and will be back in action on Friday night in Monroe as they begin a three-game series against the UL Monroe Warhawks in Sun Belt Conference play.