Thursday night didn’t end exactly the way the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (11-14, 2-5 Sun Belt) wanted it to. They headed into the bottom of the ninth with a 7-4 lead. However, Arkansas State (10-12, 2-5 Sun Belt) was able to fight back and come away with an 8-7 lead after 12 innings.
How It Happened
After the Red Wolves got on the board with a two-run single by Cullen Ray, the Cajuns responded with a two-run double from Hunter Kasuls.
Kasuls also got the Cajuns out in front in the fifth with an RBI triple. They weren’t done though as they put together two more runs to make it 5-2. Arkansas State responded in the seventh with a solo shot from Winston Welch. He followed that up in the eighth with an RBI double down the left field line to make it 5-4.
Gavin Bourgeois and Kasuls struck again put a gap between themselves and the Red Wolves in the ninth though with a pair of runs to make it 7-4. That didn’t last long though as Arkansas State went off in the bottom frame to tie things up and force extra innings.
Things unraveled for the Cajuns in the 12th when Grant Cox came in for Dylan Moore. He started off the inning hitting a batter followed immediately by a throwing error. After walking the bases loaded, he then hit Caleb Squire to give the Red Wolves the ballgame.
Big Number: 16
While the Cajuns were able to get it going offensively with seven runs off of 10 hits, the number of strikeouts is concerning with 16 batters getting struck out, ten of which came courtesy of Bradey Welsh.
Player of the Game: Hunter Kasuls
Even in the loss, Hunter Kasuls shined bright on Thursday, going 3-of-6 with four RBIs on the evening. It’s safe to say that he deserved this one.
Next Up: Look to Even Series Friday; First Pitch Set for 6:30 pm
-Clint Domingue