The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team fell 8-2 to the Missouri State Bears on Friday afternoon inside Russo Park. The loss begins the 2026 campaign and will be the first of a scheduled three-game series.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana (0-1) started the season with junior college transfer Ty Roman on the mound. The left-hander struggled early, allowing three consecutive base-runners and an RBI double from Taeg Gollert. That made it 1-0 Bears, and they then loaded the bases with two outs. Roman got a big strikeout to dance out of the inning without any further damage being done.
Missouri State (1-0) countered with right-hander Michael Yusypchuk. He allowed a couple of baserunners in the first, but a pickoff and stranded runner allowed him to post a zero and keep the 1-0 lead.
After the initial run by Missouri State, this turned into a pitcher’s duel. Both starting arms cruised through the remainder of the early innings, trading zeroes on the board. It was the Bears who broke through again, this time on a mammoth solo home run from Charlie Carter in the top of the fifth. That made it 2-0, and Roman was done after he got through the fifth.
Missouri State continued to use the long ball. Caden Bogenpohl and Bobby Atkinson both hit shots to extend the lead further, making it 4-0.
Louisiana would do well to cut that lead in half in the eighth. They manufactured the first run. Then, Colt Brown got his first collegiate hit with an RBI double to make it 4-2.
Things would come unraveled in the top of the ninth. The Cajuns struggled to throw strikes, walking in and hitting a batter to bring in the first two runs of the frame. Then, Gollert brought home two more to make it 8-2 and put this game out of reach. Missouri State held on for the win.
BIG NUMBER: 4
The Bears entered the ninth inning with four runs, and left it with four more. That gave them a comfortable 8-2 lead and allowed them to close out the victory.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Michael Yusypchuk
There is no bigger job in baseball than that of an opening day starter on the mound. Yusypchuk got Missouri State off to a great start, tossing six shutout innings. He struck out four in the outing.
UP NEXT: Game two between Louisiana and Missouri State is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 14th.