Jags Edge Cajuns With Walk-Off Winner In Series Opener

MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama's Travis Swaggerty provided a walk-off RBI single in the ninth as the 21st-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team fell 3-2 in a pitcher's duel on Friday night in the series opener at Eddie Stanky Field.

The loss moves the Ragin' Cajuns (31-19, 16-9 Sun Belt) four games behind the 23rd-ranked Jaguars (37-14, 20-5 Sun Belt) for first place in the league.

All three South Alabama runs in the contest were unearned as Louisiana committed the only two errors on the night.

"When you don't score many runs, you have to play better defense," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Gunner was really good and should have won the game 2-0. We had plenty of chances to drive in runs tonight and just didn't do it. What makes South Alabama good is when they have chances to drive in runs they do it. We have to get the critical hit at the at the critical moment in the game."

Sophomore Gunner Leger had one of his best outings of his career in the game limiting the Jaguars to two unearned runs on five hits in seven innings of work. Leger struck out seven with two walks in a no decision. The left-hander retired 12 straight batters from the first through the fifth inning.

Senior Eric Carter (3-2) was handed his second loss of the year after giving up an unearned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Carter had two walks and a strikeout in the outing.

South Alabama starter Kevin Hill also did not factor into the decision allowing just two runs on eight hits in eight innings. Hill struck out seven and walked two.

Reliever Mike Dolloff (3-4) picked up the win for the Jaguars tossing a scoreless inning in the ninth with two strikeouts.

Offensively, freshman Hunter Kasuls had a game-high three hits as the Cajuns outhit South Alabama 9-6. Stefan Trosclair and Brenn Conrad also had a pair of hits for Louisiana. Swaggerty and Jared Barnes each had two hits in the contest for the Jags.

The Cajuns jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Trosclair.

The lead was short lived though as Matt Bolger evened the contest at 1-all in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI double down the left field line. In the next at-bat, Barnes brought home another run on an infield single to give South Alabama a 2-1 lead.

The Jaguars threatened in the bottom of the fifth putting runners on second and third with two outs. Senior Kyle Clement came up with a key defense play as he laid out for a catch on a line drive to shallow center by Drew LaBounty to end the inning and keep South Alabama from extending its lead.

Louisiana pulled even in the top of the sixth on an RBI single through the right side of the infield scoring Trosclair. Conrad was thrown out at the plate on the play trying to score from second.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ben Gann drew a two-out walk from Carter. Pinch runner Dylan Hardy stole second and then moved up to third on a throwing error by catcher Nick Thurman. Swaggerty ended the contest with a single to right field to give the Jags the walk-off winner.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. as freshman right-hander Nick Lee (6-1, 3.02 ERA) will make the start. South Alabama will start right-hander Randy Bell (5-1, 2.97 ERA).

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

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Jags Edge Cajuns With Walk-Off Winner In Series Opener

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Team Stats

Hunter Kasuls

Stefan Trosclair

Brenn Conrad

Joe Robbins

Players Mentioned

Eric Carter

Kyle Clement

Brenn Conrad

Hunter Kasuls

Nick Lee

Gunner Leger

Nick Thurman

Stefan Trosclair

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