Four-Run Eighth Powers Cajuns Past ASU

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team needed four-runs on a pair of homeruns in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 7-7 tie and come away with an 11-7 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.

The Cajuns (32-12, 15-5 Sun Belt) used a five-run sixth inning to claim the lead over the Indians, but surrendered three runs in the seventh to knot the score at 7-7.

Tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jonathan Lucroy hit a solo homerun to left field to break the deadlock. Jefferies Tatford followed Lucroy with a three-run homer later in the inning to pad the Cajuns lead. The four-run lead would be all the Cajuns would need as relief pitcher Matt Pilgreen would slam the door on the Indians.

Offensively, the Ragin' Cajuns collected 15 hits on the afternoon. Lucroy, Tatford and Scott Hawkins all went deep for the Cajuns and all three UL players had multiple hits on the day. Lucroy finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored and a team leading five RBI, while Hawkins went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Tatford concluded the day 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and three RBI.

The only other Cajuns player with multiple hits on the day was Xavier Alexander. The middle infielder finished the day 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored.

Pilgreen picked up the win for the Ragin' Cajuns. The senior improved to 5-0 on the season. He worked 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out a pair of batters.

The Cajuns were the first to scratch the scoreboard. UL got their first hit of the game as Hawkins hit his team-leading 13th homerun of the season to start the inning. The homer to left centerfield would be the only run the Cajuns would score in the inning and after two innings of play, UL lead 1-0.

Arkansas State answered in the top of the third inning. ASU started off the inning with a single to right field. The runner advanced to second on a wild pitch. A bunt single down the third base line gave the Indians runners on the corners. A double to centerfield plated both runners. The batter tried to take third on the play and was caught in a run down for the first out of the inning. A fielder's choice recorded the second out of the inning. With a runner on first, Arkansas State attempted to steal second, but the runner was called out to end the inning. After two and a half innings the Cajuns trailed 2-1.

The Indians padded their lead in the top of the fifth inning. A leadoff double down the left field line started things off for ASU. Arkansas State attempted to lay down the sacrifice bunt. The throw was off the mark allowing both runners to reach safely. With runners on the corners, the Indians benefited from an RBI single that hit off of relief pitcher Andrew Laughter's foot. Back-to-back fielder's choices allowed the second run of the inning to cross the plate. Laughter struck the final batter of the inning out, but at the midway point of the game the Ragin' Cajuns saw themselves on the wrong side of a 4-1 score.

The Cajuns trimmed the ASU lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Devon Bourque drew a four pitch walk. Josh Logan followed with a four-pitch walk of his own, as the Arkansas State pitcher Jett Jones struggled with his control in the fifth inning. Alexander drove a 3-1 pitch into right field for a single. The Cajuns playing station-to-station moved up one base to load the bases. Lucroy hit a deep fly ball to centerfield to advance the runners and plate Bourque from third base, cutting the ASU lead to 4-2.

The Cajuns used a five-run sixth inning to take their first lead since the game was 1-0 in the second inning. Kolin Hatfield led things off for the Cajuns as he reached base on a fielding error by the Indians. Tatford singled down the right field line, advancing Hatfield to third base. A sacrifice fly by Justin Robichaux scored the first run of the inning. After working the count full, Bourque drew a walk to give the Cajuns a pair of base runners. Logan singled through the left side of the infield. Tatford's slide beat the throw at the plate to tie the score at 4-4. Alexander singled to centerfield to load the bases for the Cajuns. Lucroy followed with a double down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Ragin' Cajuns a 7-4 lead.

Arkansas State answered in the seventh inning with three runs of their own to tie the game at 7-7. A hit batter started the inning and a single through the right side gave ASU runners at the corners. A line drive recorded the first out of the inning and a strikeout logged the second out. A single through the left side of the infield scored the first run of the inning. An infield single loaded the bases. A two-run single tied the score at seven apiece.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out and the score tied, Lucroy hit his 12th homerun of the season to break the tie and give the Cajuns an 8-7 edge. Hawkins followed with a single through the left side of the infield. A bloop single to left field by Matt Hicks gave the Cajuns runners on first and second with just one out. A fielder's choice gave the Cajuns runners on the corners with a pair of outs. Tatford drove a ball over the right field fence that was just fair to give UL a four-run edge.

The four runs would be all the Cajuns would need as Pilgreen shut down the ASU offense in the final frame.

The Ragin' Cajuns and Indians will complete the three-game conference series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Cajuns will look to complete their fifth sweep of the season.

-Ragin' Cajuns-

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