The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning at DABOS Park in Montgomery, Alabama as the Texas State Bobcats scored four in the bottom of the fourth to win the game 4-3.
The defeat was the first of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana threatened to score in the first as Blaze Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on a sac bunt by Maddox Mandino. Texas State’s Ryan Markwardt was able to get out of the jam by getting Lee Amedee to strike out and Colt Brown to fly out.
Louisiana got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.
Owen Galt led off with a walk and then later stole second base. Rodriguez reached on a fielding error, which allowed Galt to advance to third base. Mandino laid down the sacrifice bunt, which scored Galt.
The Ragin’ Cajuns had a chance to add to the lead in the fourth when Mark Collins got a two-out single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Markwardt again got out of the jam as he struck out Donovan LaSalle.
Matt Deggs’ team loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but were unable to get a run across home plate.
Louisiana’s Ty Roman meanwhile, was dealing as he didn’t surrender a hit to Texas State through the first six innings of play on Thursday night. The Bobcats finally got a hit when Clayton Namken hit a single down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
A sac bunt advanced Namken, and Roman was pulled for Hayden Pearson, who came in, struck out the next batter, and then Namken got caught stealing to end the inning.
Louisiana got an insurance run in the eighth when Amedee led off with a solo home run off of Texas State’s Cade Smith.
Louisiana would add another run at the top of the ninth. LaSalle reached on a fielding error, and then Galt got on with a single. A lineout advanced both runners, and then Donovan scored on a groundout by Rodriguez.
Texas State fought back in the bottom of the ninth.
Jaquae Stewart led off with a single to right field, and then Namken hit a double that put runners on third and second with no outs. Pearson was replaced on the mound by Sawyer Pruitt.
The Cajuns reliever got the first batter he faced to strike out but then walked the next batter to load the bases. Pruitt got the next batter to strike out, but then Jackson Cotton singled to drive in a run. Pruitt then walked another batter which brought in a second run.
Parker Smith was brought into the game to seal the victory, but gave up a single to Rashawn Galloway that brought home two runs.
BIG NUMBER: 4
Four was the number of runs Texas State plated in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. It is also the number of victories the Bobcats have recorded over the Ragin’ Cajuns this season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: TY ROMAN
Louisiana’s starting pitcher stepped up in a big way in Thursday’s game as he gave up no runs on one hit, striking out eight and walking only one Bobcat in a season-high 6 and 1/3 innings of work.
UP NEXT: No. 7 seed Louisiana (36-22) will take on Coastal Carolina on Friday in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at DABOS Park.