After taking down Coastal earlier in the day, the Cajuns and Chanticleers baseball teams squared off again on Saturday evening in an elimination game. Louisiana took the early early and never let it go as they move on to Championship Sunday after taking down Coastal Carolina for a second time 4-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Carson Roccaforte got things started for the Cajuns at the bottom of the first with a solo home run with two outs on the board.
Coastal Carolina would respond at the top of the third as Ty Dooley hit a single and made it home on an RBI double into right field by Nick Lucky to tie the game at one.
The Cajuns came right back at the bottom of the third inning as Will Veillon hit a double down the infield line. Max Marusak’s single advanced Veillon to third base and Kyle DeBarge’s sacrifice fly allowed him to and give Louisiana the 2-1 lead.
After the third inning, Jackson Nezuh was taken out by Cajuns coach Matt Deggs and replaced with Blake Marshall. Nezuh finished with two strikeouts, two hits allowed and one earned run.
At the bottom of the sixth, Julian Brock hit a single and Heath Hood was walked. John Taylor would bring in both runners with an RBI single into left field to give Louisiana the three-run advantage.
Coastal made one last attempt at a comeback at the top of the ninth as Derek Bender was walked and Blake Barthol hit a single that advanced Bender to third base. It wouldn’t be enough as Jake Books hit a grounder to shortstop DeBarge for the final out as the Cajuns eliminate the Chanticleers 4-1.
BIG NUMBER: 20
There was 20 total fly balls in tonight’s game that led to the low strikeout total and scoring by both teams. The Cajuns had 14 compared to Coastal’s six in a 4-1 win for Louisiana.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Blake Marshall
Marshall and the Cajuns defense came in clutch once again on Saturday as he came in for 5 1/3 innings of relief and struck out five batters while only allowing two hits and no runs.
UP NEXT: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team will play in championship Sunday as they face Southern Miss at 1:00 p.m.