Louisiana returned to Russo Park tonight to host Rice in the first game of a three-game set. The Owls scored two runs in the first three innings and it proved to be enough in a 2-1 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Rice got on the board early after a rocky start from Jack Martinez. After a leadoff walk, Louisiana got a strikeout before walking the next two batters to load the bases. Then, Manny Garza lined one into center field for the second out, but Treyton Rank tagged from third to score the first run of the game.
In the third, Garza delivered again for the Owls with an RBI single to score Pierce Gallo and make it a 2-0 lead for Rice. Then in the fourth, the Owls were able to load the bases with just one out, but a grounder right to David Christie allowed him to throw out the runner and home and Jose Torres fired it to first for the first double play of the season and get Louisiana out of the jam.
In the sixth, the Cajuns finally had life after a bunt single from Jose Torres, his first hit with Louisiana. Then, Caleb Stelly hit a blooper into right field for a hit that moved Torres to third base with one out. After a stolen base from Stelly, a sacrifice fly from Luke Yuhasz scored Torres to make it 2-1 after six innings.
Rice responded in the top of the seventh with a pair of walks and a double to load the bases with only one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts from Steven Cash get the Cajuns out of the inning without any damage.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lee Amedee was hit by a pitch to start the inning with Maddox Mandino pinch-running for them. Then, Louisiana’s leading hitter Trey Lafluer, who didn’t start the game because of an injury, pinch-hit for Torres and got on with a single. Then a fielder’s choice put two runners in scoring position for the Cajuns, but Rice got a groundout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Louisiana went three up three down in quick order to fall to Rice in the opener 2-1.
BIG NUMBER: 0-7
Louisiana went 0-7 as a team with two outs in tonight’s series opener, struggling to find a real offensive rhythm throughout the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Manny Garza
The Rice catcher went 1-2 at the plate, including registering both RBI for the Owls in the win.
UP NEXT: Louisiana and Rice will return to M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park on Saturday afternoon for game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.