Cajuns Defeat South Alabama 6-3 To Win Eighth Straight Series

MOBILE, Ala. – The 21st-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a four-run first inning to defeat 23rd-ranked South Alabama 6-3 and claim the squad's eighth straight series of the year and 11th of the season on Sunday at Eddie Stanky Field.

The win moves the Cajuns (33-19, 18-9 Sun Belt) two games back of the Jaguars (37-16, 20-7 Sun Belt) for first place in the conference.

"We came back from losing, and that is what we have preached all season," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "I am more happy that we came back from losing than the fact that we won. If you can come back from losing in this business, you will keep on playing late in the season. You can't accept second place when first place is available. That's exactly what these guys did in the last two games."

Sophomore Evan Guillory gave up just one run on four hits going 4.1 innings in a no decision. Guillory struck out three and walked one in his first weekend start of the year.

Freshman Hogan Harris (2-0) notched his second victory of the year going 2.2 innings in relief. Harris allowed two runs on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Eric Carter and Jevin Huval combined to throw two scoreless innings to close out the game. Carter registered his third save of the year tossing a perfect ninth inning with three strikeouts.

South Alabama starter Austin Bembnowski (6-2) was tagged with just his second loss of the season after giving up four runs on a hit with three walks in 0.1 of an inning.

Louisiana outhit the Jaguars for the third straight contest with an 8-6 edge at the plate. Kyle Clement paced the Cajuns going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Ragin' Cajuns grabbed an early lead for the third straight game on a two-run single through the right side of the infield by Brenn Conrad. After a Joe Robbins walk loaded the bases with one out, Kennon Fontenot drew a walk to extend the Louisiana advantage to 3-0. Nick Thurman brought home the final run of the inning on a sac fly to right center field to give the Cajuns a 4-0 lead.

Stefan Trosclair added to the lead in the top of the second driving in Clement on a two-out double down the left field line. Clement drove a two-out single into shallow centerfield and then stole second.

South Alabama got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single through the left side of the infield to make the score 5-1. Guillory was pulled from the game after the Jags loaded the bases with no outs in the inning. Harris then came on and struck out Travis Swaggerty and got Cole Billingsley to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.

The Jags cut the Ragin' Cajuns advantage to two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Brendan Donovan scored on a Huval wild pitch, and Jared Barnes brought a run home on an RBI ground out to third base.

Sophomore Steven Sensley added an important insurance run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double down the right field line to make the final 6-3.

Louisiana closes out a five-game road trip with a 6:30 contest at New Orleans on Tuesday. Following the matchup with the Privateers, the Cajuns host ULM in a three-game series at The Tigue starting Thursday at 6 p.m. to close out the regular season.

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

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

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Team Stats

Kyle Clement

Brian Mills

Steven Sensley

Stefan Trosclair

Players Mentioned

Eric Carter

Kyle Clement

Brenn Conrad

Kennon Fontenot

Evan Guillory

Hogan Harris

Jevin Huval

Joe Robbins

Steven Sensley

Nick Thurman

Stefan Trosclair