Cajuns Surge Past Jaguars To Take Series
LAFAYETTE, La. – The 21st-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a four-run fourth inning to surge past South Alabama with a 10-2 victory on Sunday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park to claim the squad's sixth series of the year.
The series victory is the 15th straight overall for the Cajuns (16-12, 6-3 Sun Belt) dating back to the 2016 and includes 11 straight conference series wins.
"I thought our hitters did a good job today," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Again we played good defense, and that was big for us. I thought Joe Robbins' home run got us going offensively. Joe is a guy that can really make us go. He can get the ball out of the ballpark and get the team going offensively. He got us going Friday night, and then again today he did it again. We were able to score in multiple innings today, and I thought that big fourth inning really broke their backs."
The Ragin' Cajuns outhit the Jaguars (16-12, 6-3 Sun Belt) 12-8 in the contest led by centerfielder Ishmael Edwards who went 3-for-5 with a home run, a career-high four RBI and scored three runs. Third baseman Joe Robbins also reached base three times in the game going 2-for-4 with a walk, home run, two RBI and scored once.
Sophomore left-hander Hogan Harris (3-0) notched his third victory in his last four starts allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
"I thought Hogan did a good job of coming back to settle in and pitch again after the first solo home run," Robichaux said. "He gave up another solo home run, but he came back and answered. That's a good sign from a young sophomore."
Jevin Huval and Dylan Moore combined to toss four scoreless innings to close out the game allowing just two hits with three strikeouts.
Starter Tyler Carr was handed his first loss of the season for the Jags after giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits as he was chased after 3.1 innings.
Shortstop Drew LaBounty led off the game with a solo home run to centerfield to give South Alabama an early 1-0 edge.
The Cajuns responded in the bottom half of the first as designated hitter Steven Sensley brought home Edwards on a sac fly to left field to even the game at 1-all. Edwards led off the inning with a single to right field and then moved to third on a Brenn Conrad sac bunt and a Joe Robbins single.
The Jags regained the lead in the top of the second on another leadoff home run to right centerfield, this time by right fielder Eddie Paparella to go in front 2-1.
In the bottom of the third, Edwards pulled the Ragin' Cajuns level on an RBI single to centerfield plating shortstop Hunter Kasuls. Later in the inning, Robbins drove a 1-0 pitch from Carr over the fence in right center for a two-out, two-run homer to put Louisiana ahead 4-2. The home run was the fourth of the season for Robbins.
The Cajuns broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth adding four runs on three hits and a Jaguars error to take an 8-2 advantage. Catcher Handsome Monica brought home the first run of the inning doubling down the left field line to score Tyler Stover from second base. With two on and one out, Edwards cleared the bases with a three-run inside-the-park home run down the right field line to give the Ragin' Cajuns a six-run lead.
Louisiana picked up a pair of runs on a two-out RBI single by Alex Pinero in the fifth and a two RBI single by Sensley in the sixth to make the final 10-2.
The Ragin' Cajuns close out their four-game homestand on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as they host Nicholls in a non-conference game at Russo Park. Following the matchup with the Colonels, Louisiana heads to Coastal Carolina for a three-game Sun Belt series starting on Friday at 5 p.m. CT.
Eagles Stymie Warhawks, 9-0, to Take Series Win
STATESBORO, GA. - Georgia Southern Baseball downed ULM 9-0 on Sunday to take the series over the Warhawks. The Eagles got a six run fifth inning to blow the game open. Chase Cohen delivered seven strong innings to stymie the Warhawks and close the series out. Georgia Southern is back home on Tuesday for a midweek game against Savannah State. First pitch on Tuesday night is set for 1 p.m.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It was good to bounce back and take the series win today. We got some good pitching today, Chase (Cohen) gave us a strong effort and really shut ULM down in the first half of the game to give our offense time to get things going. Offensively we were able to bust things out with the big fifth inning."
SCORING PLAYS
Bot 1st - ULM 0 - GS 1 - Steven Curry was hit by a pitch and Ryan Cleveland worked a walk to set the table for Tyler Martin. The Eagle designated hitter laced a single through the left side to score Curry from second and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Bot 4th - ULM 0 - GS 3 - Two double from Ryan Cleveland and Mason McWhorter sparked a two run fourth inning for the Eagles. McWhorter drove in one run, while C.J. Brazil drove in another with a single to right.
Bot 5th - ULM 0 - GS 9 - The Eagles batted around in the fifth, plating six runs to blow the game open. The Eagles got four hits and earned three walks and a hit batter in the frame. Logan Baldwin cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple to make the score 9-0.
GAME NOTES
- First pitch was delayed after the scheduled ULM starting pitcher, Keegan Curtis, was scratched just 10 minutes before first pitch. The Warhawks started Trey Auger instead for the Sunday matinee.
- Chase Cohen had a great outing, working seven innings to improve to 2-2 on the year. He didn't allow a run and scattered five hits over 98 pitches. After allowing two runners aboard in the first, Cohen settled down to retire the next 11 batters in order. He struck out five batters on Sunday to secure the series win.
- Tyler Martin led the way for the Eagles, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk from the No. 5 spot in the lineup.
- Logan Baldwin drove in three with his fifth inning double, one off a career-high. It was his first three RBI game this season and just his second multi-RBI game of 2017.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern hosts Savannah State on Tuesday evening for a 6 p.m. contest at the friendly confines. It is Club Sports Night at the ballpark with all Georgia Southern club sport teams invited to the game.
Coastal Sweeps Georgia State with 17-0, 7-Inning Win
ATLANTA - Coastal Carolina loaded the bases at least once in five of its seven innings -- thanks to 12 hits and 14 walks -- and scored five runs in three separate innings to claim a 17-0 win at Georgia State. The game was shorted to seven innings due to a run-rule.
Coastal sweeps its second straight Sun Belt Conference series, improving to 7-2 in the league and, with wins in eight of its last 10, are now 19-10 overall. The win over the Panthers (11-17, 1-8) was CCU's second shutout of the weekend and is the third-largest shutout win in CCU history. (Coastal shutout High Point 21-0 in 2000 and shutout Allen 20-0 in 1980.)
Dalton Ewing capped a strong week by collecting career highs in hits (4-for-5) and RBI (5) and scored twice thanks to a first-inning grand slam. Seth Lancaster and Jordan Gore each had two hits while Wood Myers drove in three.
While the CCU was piling up the runs, CCU started Zack Hopeck (2-2) was cruising on the mound. He only allowed one hit in his four innings, that coming with two outs in the fourth, with no walks and a strikeout. Georgia State only managed three hits in the game.
For the third straight game Coastal scored in the first inning for an early lead. Billy Cooke (1-for-1 with two RBI, two runs scored and two walks) drew a four-pitch walk to start the game. Cooke stole second and took third on an error. With two outs, Kevin Woodall Jr., lined an RBI single to left field to bring home Cooke. The Chants went on to load the bases thanks to walks to Myers and Lancaster. Ewing cleared the bases by hitting a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first career grand slam and fifth dinger of the season to give CCU a 5-0 lead.
The Chants loaded the bases in the second, but could not take advantage.
That was not the case in the third inning. Coastal sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs to lead 10-0. With bases loaded, Cooke lined an RBI single to right field to score Ewing while Cory Wood scored on an error on the play. Gore then brought home Kyle Skeels, who reached on a catcher's interference, with a single back up the middle. With bases loaded for the second time in the frame, Myers dumped a two-out single to right field to score Gore and Peyton Isaacson.
Coastal loaded the bases again -- and batted around again -- in the fourth as Wood and Cooke walked before Gore reached on an error. With two outs, Woodall was hit by a pitch to force home Wood and Myers drew a four-pitch walk to force in Cooke. Seth Lancaster welcomed a new Panther pitcher with a two-run single and Ewing had an RBI single to make the score 15-0.
Rafi Vazquez, in his ninth career plate appearance, started the sixth inning with his first career home run, which was also his first collegiate hit. The Chants then loaded the bases after a walk and two singles. Josh Crump forced home Myers with an RBI walk to provide the eventual 17-0 victory.
Coastal Carolina will stay on the road to face region rival The Citadel on Wednesday (April 5). First pitch at Riley Park Is set for 6 pm.
The Chanticleers return to Springs Brooks Stadium for a key weekend series with nationally-ranked Louisiana April 7-9.