The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns defeated the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 6-5 at Russo Park as CJ Willis hit a double in the bottom of the 10th inning on Tuesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana starting pitcher Brandon Talley struggled to start the game as he allowed two SLU batters to get on base in the top of the first, including a leadoff single. Despite that, the Ragin’ Cajuns did not allow the Lions to plate a run.
In the bottom of the first, Max Marusak led off with a single and then would score three batters later on a double to left field by Carson Roccaforte.
SLU would tie the game in the top of the third.
Louisiana pitcher Hayden Durke walked leadoff hitter TJ Salvaggio on four pitches and then walked the next batter Evan Keller on five pitches.
After a fly out to center field, the runners advanced to second and third. Durke then hit Preston Faulkner to load the bases. Durke was pulled for Jacob Schultz who gave up a single to Shea Thomas which plated one run.
Schultz was able to get the next batter to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Louisiana took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Heath Hood drew a one-out walk. Julia Brock brought Hood home on a double to right center field and then Brock scored on a double down the right field line by Bobby Lada.
SLU scored two runs in the top of the sixth as a triple by Christian Garcia scored one run and then Garcia scored on a throwing error.
Louisiana shutout SLU the next two innings but that all changed in the top of the ninth.
With two outs, Ragin’ Cajun relief pitcher Drew Shifflet gave up a triple down the left field line to Tyler Finke who would score on a double by Faulkner.
SLU’s Bryce Grizzaffi led off the 10th inning with a single to second base off of Louisiana’s Conor Higgs, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and then to third base on a groundout. After a hit batter and walk loaded the bases, Grizzaffi scored on a check-swing walk by Keller. Higgs got out of the inning by striking out Finke. Louisiana’s Kyle DeBarge lead off with a single and then was joined on the base paths by Roccaforte who hit a single through the right side of the infield. Pinch hitter Jonathan Brandon beat out the throw at first for a fielder’s choice which allowed the Ragin’ Cajuns to tie the game as DeBarge scored. CJ Willis then laced a double into center field which allowed Brandon to score the game-winning run.
BIG NUMBER: 32
Louisiana’s starting pitcher Brandon Talley threw 32 pitches in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game. Talley would throw only nine pitches in the second inning before being pulled to start the third.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CJ WILLIS
Louisiana’s designated hitter went 2-for-4 on Tuesday night including the game-winning double in the bottom of the 10th inning.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (3-1) will take on Stanford on Friday at the Round Rock Classic in Texas.