The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns lost 5-3 to ULM on Friday night in game 1. With the loss UL’s record drops to 17-9 (2-5) and ULM improves to 15-12 (5-2). This loss for the Cajuns is now their 4th straight Sun Belt Conference loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Freshman Sawyer Pruitt got the start in his usual Friday night spot for the Cajuns. He ran into a bit of trouble early, giving up a double to Micah Dean, but settled in to escape the inning unscathed.
ULM countered with a freshman of their own in right-hander Adam Brodnax. He retired the Cajuns in order, highlighted by an acrobatic diving catch from second baseman Dayne Wray in shallow right to end the inning.
The Warhawks threatened again in the second with runners on the corners. Zach White attempted to score Marcus Aranda from third on a suicide squeeze, but first baseman Lee Amedee played it perfectly and fired home to cut down Aranda and keep ULM off the board.
Blaze Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third with an RBI groundout, scoring Drew Markle to give the Cajuns a 1-0 lead.
Louisiana added on in the fourth. Steven Spalitta crushed a two-run homer to right-center—his second of the year—to make it 3-0.
The Warhawks answered in the fifth, taking advantage of a dropped third strike by Colt Brown that allowed Micah Dean to score from third.
ULM kept the pressure on in the sixth. Two singles and a walk plated another run, cutting the deficit to one and ending Pruitt’s night. His final line: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 4 R, 4 ER.
Freshman lefty Cole Finnegan entered in relief and immediately surrendered a three-run homer to Davis Mauzy. He allowed another hit before recording just one out, prompting a call to sophomore right-hander Parker Smith with a runner on first.
Smith delivered a big strikeout to stop the bleeding and get out of the inning, but ULM had taken a 5-3 lead.
The Warhawks made a pitching change of their own in the bottom of the sixth after a two-out walk to Colt Brown. Brodnax’s final line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER.
Freshman righty Tyler Roark came on in relief and got Rigoberto Hernandez to fly out to center to end the inning.
After being held scoreless since the third, the Cajuns had one last chance in the ninth. Amedee struck out to lead off the inning, but Roark walked Hernandez and Donovan LaSalle back-to-back to put two on with one out, ending his night.
Junior Holden Hess came on to close it out for the Warhawks and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to seal a 5-3 win.
BIG NUMBER: .083
The Cajuns failed to find the timely hits to capitalize with runners on. Louisiana batted just .083 with runners on base.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Davis Mauzy
Mauzy only had one hit on the night, but it was all he needed. His 3 run home run in the top of the 6th was the decisive blow for the Warhawks to take game 1 over the Cajuns.
UP NEXT: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will be back at home tomorrow, March 28th, at 2 PM for game 2 with ULM.