If there’s one thing that is a certainty for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (21-14-1, 10-4-1 Sun Belt) it’s that when you need a run to avoid extra innings, they’ll go for the squeeze bunt.
Coach Tony Robichaux calls it a play that you can’t really defend if you have the right guy at the plate. Joe Robbins was that guy for the Cajuns on Saturday afternoon.
“The one controllable thing you have is the squeeze.” Robichaux said of the gameplan with one out in the bottom of the ninth, “We had a good bunter up there; we had a good playing surface. The only thing you take a chance on is he pops the ball up or they do a pitch out. Sometimes you’ve got to gamble and go with it. He gambled and it worked out.”
After Brad Antchak hit a single to center field to get Izzy Edwards to third base, it was time for that play to be called.
Robbins had been in this situation earlier this season and it worked out. With the count 0-1, the senior laid down the bunt as Edwards started to put on the jets. Before the pitcher got a hold of the ball, Edwards was able to get across to give the Cajuns the series sweep against Arkansas State (19-17, 7-8 Sun Belt) by the score of 3-2.
Wyatt Marks came on in relief and got his second win of the season, improving to 2-1 on the year. The junior out of St. Thomas More struck out seven of the nine batters he faced in three innings of work.
The Cajuns will travel over to New Orleans on Tuesday for a midweek matchup against Tulane (18-18) with first pitch set for 6 pm.
-Clint Domingue