It wasn’t pretty, but the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (31-19-1, 15-9-1 Sun Belt) were able to keep the momentum they gained with midweek victories over Louisiana Tech and McNeese with an 8-7 win over Texas State (24-26, 10-15 Sun Belt).
Both teams left the bases loaded in the first in what looked to be a prelude of things to come on Friday night. Jacob Almendarez got the Bobcats on the board in the second with a sac bunt, allowing Dylan Paul to reach home safely.
The Cajuns responded in the bottom of the second with three runs capped off by an RBI single from Steven Sensley. Derek Scheible got Texas State within one run in the 2nd with an RBI single to left field.
Joe Robbins gave Gunner Leger some run support in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run triple. However, things got tied up in the fifth when Luke Sherley got his lone hit on the evening with a three-run blast into the pine trees.
Robbins struck again in the sixth with a triple to left centerfield to get back in control. However, the Bobcats took the lead in the eighth with back-to-back home runs.
The Cajuns needed to respond in a big way in the bottom of the eighth and Sensley started things off well enough with an RBI double. Sensley reached home for what would be the game winner after a throwing error from Jonathan Ortega.
Dylan Moore got the win in relief, improving to 2-1 on the season. The junior threw one and two-thirds innings of perfect baseball, striking out two on the evening.
The Cajuns will look to take the series on Saturday with first pitch set for 6 pm.
-Clint Domingue