STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns survived and advanced.
During a hot afternoon at Dudy Noble Field, Louisiana’s bats heated up, recording 14 hits as they took down Lipscomb 10-4 in an elimination game at the Starkville Regional on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana starting pitcher Ty Roman escaped trouble in the first.
After getting the leadoff hitter out, the Ragin’ Cajuns lefty walked Brady Miller and then gave up a single to Cam Pruitt. Roman got out of the jam by striking out Bison cleanup hitter Jordan Thomas and then having Kai Holm ground out.
The Cajuns gave Roman some run support in the bottom frame as Blaze Rodriguez led off with a single to right field. Former Opelousas Catholic star Mark Collins lifted a pitch from Lipscomb’s Jace Trautner over the right field wall for a two-run home run.
Lipscomb’s Blake Carter led off the second with a double to left field, and two batters later, Alejandro Ludeiro hit a hard ball to Louisiana’s Rodriguez, who bobbled the ground ball. That allowed Ludeiro to get on base, but Carter tried to score, but Rodriguez gunned him out at home plate.
Louisiana struck again in the bottom of the second as Lewis drew a two-out walk and then Rodriguez singled to left. Collins came up to the plate and drove in two runs by lacing a single into left field.
Lipscomb got on the scoreboard in the top of the third as Thomas hit a two-out, two-run home run off of Roman.
Louisiana got a run back in the bottom frame as Colt Brown hit a solo home run that bounced off the patio area behind left field. The Ragin’ Cajuns added another run in the fourth as Rodriguez hit a single to left center that plated Josh Lim.
Ragin’ Cajuns got on the scoreboard again in the fifth as Brown and Markle led off with back-to-back singles. Two hitters later, Lim singled to center to score Brown, and then Markle scored on a wild pitch.
Lipscomb’s Damion Kenealy Jr. hit a solo home run off the brick wall behind right field to give the Bison a run in the sixth. An RBI single by Thomas in the seventh cut the Ragin’ Cajuns’ lead down to four runs.
Lewis led off the eighth with a bunt single and then stole second base. Rodriguez reached on a bunt single, but a throwing error allowed Lewis to score and Rodriguez to advance to third. A sac fly by Lee Amedee scored Rodriguez.
BIG NUMBER I: 14
With Saturday’s victory, Louisiana has won at least one game in 14 consecutive NCAA Regionals. The last time the Ragin’ Cajuns went winless in an NCAA Regional was way back in 1998.
BIG NUMBER II: 40
Louisiana reached 40 victories for the seventh time since 2013, and the 18th time in Ragin’ Cajuns baseball history.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: BLAZE RODRIGUEZ & MARK COLLINS
Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI at the plate, while also gunning down a runner at home plate. Collins, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 with a home run and a career-best 4 RBI.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (40-24) will face either Cincinnati or Mississippi State in an elimination game on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.