Comeback Sparks Cajuns Sweep of ULM

MONROE, La.-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns baseball team trailed by as many as seven runs, but three homeruns in the seventh inning gave the Cajuns the lead, which they would not relinquish as they completed the three-game Sun Belt Conference sweep of Louisiana-Monroe by a score of 11-9 on Sunday afternoon at Warhawk Field.

After falling behind 7-0, the Cajuns (35-13, 18-6 Sun Belt) scored three runs in the fourth, a run in the sixth and four runs in the seventh to take the lead 8-7. UL added a three-spot in ninth, which would prove to be valuable as ULM cut the lead to two runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate.

Offensively, the Ragin' Cajuns collected 19 hits on the afternoon with seven players collecting multiple hits.

Jonathan Lucroy led the team with four hits on the day. He finished the game 4-for-6 with a solo homerun, two runs scored and an RBI.

Josh Logan collected three hits on the day, while Xavier Alexander, Devon Bourque, Kolin Hatfield, Matt Hicks and Jefferies Tatford all collected two hits on the day.

Hicks' two-run homer in the seventh inning tied the score at 7-7 and two batters later, Lucroy's solo shot gave the Cajuns a lead that they would not relinquish.

Matt Casbon hit his first homerun as a Ragin' Cajuns player. His homer was the first of three homeruns for the Cajuns in the seventh inning.

Andrew Laughter picked up his first win of the season. The senior worked 3.0 innings in relief. He surrendered three hits with no extra-base hits. He struck out one and walked two.

Matt Pilgreen earned his third save of the year as he retired the final batter of the game to secure the two-run victory.

Louisiana-Monroe was the first team to break the 0-0 deadlock. In the second inning, a solo homerun broke the scoreless tie and gave ULM a 1-0 edge.

The Warhawks extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning. A second solo homer by ULM gave the home team a 2-0 advantage. Louisiana-Monroe was not finished with the scoring. A one out single continued the inning. A throwing error by the Cajuns left the Warhawks with a pair of baserunners and just one out. A single loaded the bases and UL was forced to go to their bullpen.

Buddy Glass, who was a late scratch for Friday's game, entered the game in relief of starting pitcher Brent Solich. Glass hit the first batter he faced with a pitch to score the second run of the inning. A sacrifice fly scored the next run of the inning for the Warhawks. A two-out double scored a pair of runs and put the Cajuns behind 6-0. An RBI single made the score 7-0 in favor of Louisiana-Monroe. Justin Robichaux entered the game and proceeded to strike out the first batter he faced to end the inning.

Trailing 7-0, the Cajuns got on the scoreboard and cut into the ULM lead. Casbon led off the inning by being hit with a pitch. A wild pitch moved Casbon to second base and a single by William Long moved the runner to third. An RBI single by Logan plated Casbon and put the Cajuns on the board. A fielder's choice erased the lead runner but still left the Cajuns a pair of base runners. A two-RBI double by Bourque plated Logan and Hicks and cut the ULM lead to just four runs at 7-3.

The Cajuns added a run on four hits in the sixth inning to trim the lead. Bourque singled through the right side of the infield to start things off for the Cajuns, however, a double play left UL with two outs and no one on base. Three consecutive singles by Tatford, Alexander and Hatfield plated a run and left the Ragin' Cajuns within three-runs of tying the score.

In the seventh inning, UL took the lead thanks to a trio of homeruns. Casbon led off the inning with his first homerun as a Cajun. Long walked and moved to second on a groundout. A two-run homerun by Hicks knotted the score at 7-7. After a groundout, Lucroy homered to left field to give the Cajuns their first lead of the afternoon.

The score would remain 8-7 until the ninth inning. Hicks led off the inning with a single down the right field line. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner into scoring position. A single gave UL runners on the corners. Tatford was intentionally walked to load the bases. Alexander singled up the middle to score Hicks from third and extend the Cajuns lead. Hatfield's single through the right side of the infield plated Lucroy. A sacrifice fly by Casbon scored Tatford and gave the Ragin' Cajuns an 11-7 edge.

The runs proved to be important as Louisiana-Monroe mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. After a strikeout recorded the first out of the inning, the Warhawks put a runner in scoring position with a triple. The next batter followed with a two-run homerun to cut the Cajuns lead in half. A fly ball recorded the second out of the inning. A walk continued the inning and with the tying run at the plate, the Cajuns brought in Pilgreen. The closer induced a groundout to end the game and secure the win.

The Ragin' Cajuns will return to action on Friday, May 11, as the Cajuns welcome Arkansas-Little Rock to M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. The Cajuns will have the week off as the student-athletes take their final exams.

UL's midweek game with the University of Houston that was scheduled for Wednesday, May 9 has been canceled so the student-athletes from each team can concentrate on their final exams.

-Ragin' Cajuns-

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