Three-Run Sixth Inning Propels Cajuns To 5-1 Win Over Colonels

LAFAYETTE, La. – The fifth-ranked Louisiana baseball team used a three-run sixth inning to win their eighth straight game Tuesday night defeating in-state foe Nicholls State 5-1 in front of a crowd of 3,430 at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

The win moves the Ragin' Cajuns to 18-2 on the year, which is the best start through 20 games for Louisiana since the 2000 season when the team went 19-1.

"Tonight was another example of this team winning in different ways," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "We had to play from behind and keep them from getting a big inning, and our guys did that. I thought Ryan Wilson did a good job of matching their guy. We got a big hit when we needed it to win the game."

Senior Ryan Wilson notched his second win of the year and eighth of his career limiting the Colonels (10-11) to one run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Wilson retired the first seven batters he faced.

Fellow senior Matt Plitt was strong out of the bullpen to earn his first career save throwing three scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts.

"Plitt did what he was supposed to do," Robichaux added. "He didn't give them anything."

Nicholls State starter Mike Hanchar held the Cajuns scoreless in five innings of work scattering three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in a no decision.

Ryan Deemes was saddled with the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season after giving up three runs on three hits in an inning of relief.

Seth Harrison, Caleb Adams and Dylan Butler each had a pair of hits in the game as Louisiana outhit the Colonels 9-4, while Chase Compton had two RBI coming off of the bench. With his triple in the bottom of the fourth, Adams extended his streak of reaching base safely to 14 games.

Nicholls State broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third on a RBI single by Philip Lyons scoring David Zorn from second.

The Colonels threatened in the top of the fifth moving runners to second and third with two outs on a Ragin' Cajuns throwing error, but Wilson struck out Lyons looking on a 1-2 pitch to get out of the jam.

The Cajuns broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the sixth plating three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 advantage. With the bases loaded and no outs, Compton delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle to score Harrison and Adams. In the next at bat, Michael Strentz sent a sac fly to deep centerfield allowing Tyler Girouard to score easily from third.

Louisiana added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Nicholls State error and an Adams squeeze bunt.

The Ragin' Cajuns will go for the series sweep tomorrow as they will face off with the Colonels again, this time at 6 p.m. on the road in Thibodaux, La. Following the contest against Nicholls State, the Cajuns will open a nine-game homestand at the Tigue with a three-game series against Georgia State starting on Friday at 6 p.m.

For a behind the scenes look at Louisiana baseball and updates follow the squad on twitter @CajunsBaseball.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Three-Run Sixth Inning Propels Cajuns To 5-1 Win Over Colonels

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Team Stats

Seth Harrison

Caleb Adams

Dylan Butler

Ryan Leonards

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