Cajuns Edge Privateers in Game One

NEW ORLEANS-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team continued their hot play of late as they edged New Orleans by a final score of 5-4 on Thursday night at Maestri Field.

The Cajuns improved to 39-13 on the season with a 22-6 Sun Belt Conference record, while the Privateers fell to 32-22 and 15-13 SBC.

Starting Pitcher Danny Farquhar improved to 6-3 on the year as he tossed his first career complete game. The sophomore from Pembroke Pines, Fla., struck out a career high 13 batters while walking just one batter. He allowed four runs, but just two earned runs, while scattering seven hits on the night.

Offensively, the Cajuns collected nine hits in the game. Nolan Gisclair led the team with three hits while Jonathan Lucroy added a pair of hits.

Matt Casbon collected just one hit on the night, but made it count as he drove in the tying and go ahead run with a two-RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. In the top of the eighth, Casbon laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt that, because of an error by UNO, allowed two runs to score.

The Privateers were the first to score a run. A leadoff single in the first inning got thing started for UNO. A groundout moved the runner to second base and a one-out RBI single put New Orleans on the scoreboard. The Cajuns escaped the inning with no further damage, but trailed 1-0 after one inning of play.

UNO added a run in the second inning. A one-out double got things going for the Privateers. A groundout moved the runner to third and a two-out double plated the runner. Farquhar struck out the final batter of the inning, but the Cajuns trailed 2-0 after two innings.

The Cajuns cut the lead in half in the top of the third inning. Josh Logan doubled down the left field line to start off the inning. Matt Hicks reached on a fielding error by UNO leaving the Cajuns runners on the corners. UL hit into a double play, but Logan was able to score easily from third base and cut the Privateers lead to just 2-1.

Louisiana-Lafayette took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Jefferies Tatford led off the inning with a walk. Nolan Gisclair followed with a double to left field. Matt Casbon singled to left field to plate both runners and give the Cajuns a 3-2 advantage.

Neither team would score again until the eighth inning. The Cajuns got a one-out single from Scott Hawkins to get things started. Tatford delivered a bunt single to give UL a pair of baserunners. An infield single by Gisclair loaded the bases. Casbon reached on a fielder's choice RBI sacrifice bunt. A throwing error by New Orleans allowed a second run to score on the play and push the Cajuns lead to 5-2.

The runs would come in handy as UNO made a push in the bottom of the ninth. A bunt single and a double left the Privateers with a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. A strikeout recorded the first out and the first run of the inning scored on a fielder's choice. A passed ball plated the second run of the inning, but a strikeout and a groundout to the pitcher ended the UNO threat and the game.

The Ragin' Cajuns and Privateers will continue the series on Friday night as they get set to play game two. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.

-Ragin' Cajuns-

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics