Louisiana Baseball Edges Georgia State 4-2 In Series Opener

LAFAYETTE, La. – The 29th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team plated two runs in the bottom of the eight to defeat Georgia State 4-2 in the series opener Thursday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

The victory ends a three-game skid and improves the Cajuns to 13-9 on the season and 4-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, while the Panthers fall to 12-10 overall and 2-2 in league play.

"With pitched and played defense tonight. That's got to be our M.O., we have to pitch and play defense and get timely hitting," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "I have faith in Wyatt (Marks) that he can come back and just let it roll. Tonight he let it all hang out. We are making some adjustments offensively, and we are trying to get back to pitching, playing defense and getting timely hitting."

Marks posted his third quality start of the season in his longest outing of 2016 limiting GSU to two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. Marks struck out six and walked three in a no decision.

Sophomore Dylan Moore (2-1) picked up his second win of the year going two scoreless innings in relief to close out the contest. Moore saw just one Panther reach base in the two frames on a one-out walk in the ninth.

Bryce Conley (4-2) was tagged with the loss for Georgia State after surrendering two runs in 0.1 innings with three walks and a strikeout.

GSU starter Wayne Wages was strong on the mound in a no decision, holding the Ragin' Cajuns to two runs on two hits in seven innings with six strikeouts.

Offensively, the Cajuns were outhit 6-2 with Jaylen Woullard and James Clements each tallying a pair of hits for Georgia State. The two hits are the fewest posted by Louisiana in a game this season.

The Cajuns took an early 2-0 lead on a controversial two-run homer to center by Joe Robbins in the bottom of the first. The home run is the sixth of the season for Robbins.

After four scoreless innings, the Panthers clawed their way back into the game scoring a pair of runs in the sixth to even the contest at 2-all. Joey Roach brought home the first run of the inning sending an RBI double off the wall in left to cut the Louisiana advantage to 2-1. Following a Marks wild pitch that moved Roach to third, Ryan Blanton tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right to score Roach.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cajuns would plate two runs without the benefit of a hit to take a 4-2 edge. Stefan Trosclair got the inning started as he was hit by a pitch and then stole second. After a Brenn Conrad walk and a Robbins strikeout, Steven Sensley walked to load the bases. In the next at bat, Ishmael Edwards drew a four-pitch walk from Conley to bring home Trosclair and put the Ragin' Cajuns up 3-2. Nick Thurman tacked on an insurance run in the next at-bat scoring Conrad on a sac fly to deep centerfield.

Moore faced the minimum in the top of the ninth inducing a ground ball double play from Nick Gatewood to end the contest.

Louisiana and Georgia State return to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at The Tigue as the Cajuns look to clinch their fourth series victory of the year. Sophomore left-hander Gunner Leger will make the start for the Cajuns. The Panthers will send right-hander Marc-Andre Habeck to the mound.

Fans can catch the game live on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker making the call. Live stats and video are available on RaginCajuns.com.

For updates and info on Louisiana baseball, follow the team on twitter @CajunsBaseball or check RaginCajuns.com.

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Team Stats

Joe Robbins

Ishmael Edwards

Stefan Trosclair

Brenn Conrad

Players Mentioned

Brenn Conrad

Ishmael Edwards

Gunner Leger

Dylan Moore

Joe Robbins

Steven Sensley

Nick Thurman

Stefan Trosclair