University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, June 3
Coral Gables, Fla.
1:15 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
41-23
19
vs
10
Maine
32-21
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Maine
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
5
0
10
14
2
Louisiana
0
4
0
3
3
0
9
0
X
19
17
1
Record-Tying Effort Helps Cajuns Wear Down Black Bears, 19-10
6/3/2023 8:22:00 PM | Baseball
Louisiana to face Miami-Texas loser on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Julian Brock celebrated his 22nd birthday with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Kyle DeBarge, Carson Roccaforte and Conor Higgs each slugged home runs to lead the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team to a 19-10 win over Maine on Saturday at the NCAA Coral Gables Regional at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Carson Fluno (4-1) tossed seven innings with three strikeouts as Louisiana (41-23), staved off elimination and tied the school-record for most runs scored in a NCAA Regional game. Louisiana's 19 runs tied the mark set in a 19-8 win over the University of Houston at the 1999 NCAA Houston Regional.
Louisiana, which recorded 17 hits and scored nine runs in the seventh inning to take a 19-5 lead, advanced to face the loser of Miami (Fla.) and Texas on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
Brock opened the scoring for Louisiana in the second inning when his one-out single to center scored Heath Hood. After a walk to John Taylor, freshman Caleb Stelly would follow with an RBI single before an RBI grounder by CJ Willis and Max Marusak's RBI single would cap a four-run inning off Maine starter Caleb Leys (5-1).
DeBarge gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning with a three-run blast to left field after Stelly was hit by a pitch and Willis drew a walk.
Brock would fuel another three-run inning for Louisiana when his RBI single to left scored Hood, who reached on a leadoff error before advancing to third on Higgs' single through the right side. Taylor, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate, then laced a two-run double into the gap to give Louisiana a 10-3 lead after five innings.
Maine (32-21), a seven-time College World Series participant and making its first trip to the NCAA Regionals since 2011, scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning on Dean O'Neill's home run to left to get the Black Bears to within 10-5 before Louisiana ran away with its nine-run frame in the seventh.
Higgs opened the inning with a walk, stole second and scored on Brock's double into the gap before Taylor, Stelly and Willis each singled as Louisiana recorded eight hits in the inning and sent 12 men to the plate.
Roccaforte would drive in Willis and DeBarge with a three-run blast to left field for the Ragin' Cajuns before Higgs belted a home run off the scoreboard in left to drive in Hood.
All nine starters in the lineup for Louisiana recorded at least one hit with eight players driving in at least two runs.
Leys surrendered seven runs on five hits in 4.0 innings for the Black Bears with Gianni Gambardella allowing eight hits and seven earned runs in 2.0 innings of work. O'Neill had three hits and drove in five runs for Maine with Jake Rainess and Jake Marquez recording three hits each.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
2023 NCAA CORAL GABLES REGIONAL – GAME 3 QUOTE SHEET
LOUISIANA 19, MAINE 10
Louisiana Head Coach Matt Deggs
Opening statement…
"Hard-fought game yesterday. It really came down to about three feet, maybe closer than that. It was a bitter pill to swallow. We got up about 5 o'clock this morning and we've been at the ballpark since 9 a.m. And we took BP like it was the first game of the year and proceeded to sit through a two-hour rain delay and then fly around the bases about as well as you can fly around the bases and compete with about as much energy as you can compete with. And that's why I love these guys. They're so much fun to coach. And they just love to play and that showed today."
Louisiana Infielder Kyle DeBarge
On the performance of Caleb Stelly…
"We always say Stelly's takes are predetermined takes. He has a great eye for the zone. When he does swing, it's always a barrel. He had great at bats. It was everything we thought was going to happen."
Louisiana Outfielder Caleb Stelly
On what Saturday's game was like given lineup shuffles…
"They told me before the game that I was playing, kind of late. I found out today. I looked through the lineup and saw my name on there. Like Coach Deggs said, we work hard. We fly around the bases all the time. We're always working. I think I was ready. They got me ready. The older guys got me ready."
Louisiana Catcher Julian Brock
On his impressive performance on his birthday…
"Hard to say. I really want to say the birthday had something to do with it. I was struggling a little bit throughout the conference tournament and yesterday. I needed to continue to stay where I had to be, adjust a little bit and worked out a little bit today. Looking
Maine head coach Nick Derba
Opening statement…
"Well, it's a good season for us overall. We finished out, we're getting eliminated in a Regional game. It's a building block for us in general. It's good for our returners to see what it really takes to be a national contender. For us, it's a step in the right direction, without a doubt."
Maine catcher Dean O'Neill
On his two-home run day…
"I just saw fastballs and if I saw an off-speed, I adjusted to it. Just looking to put my best swing on the ball and it just so happened to go out."
On playing in an NCAA Regional…
"Although the result wasn't what we wanted, this is my first year. I'm a freshman. This is the coolest experience for me, going on a plane to a Regional. I mean, a year ago today, I was sitting on my couch watching Regionals on TV, thinking, 'Man, this is the coolest thing ever and I'm going to a program where I'm gonna get the opportunity to play in a Regional.' And I did today and it was really, really cool to experience it, play in it. I thought it was amazing."
Maine infielder Jake Marquez
On his team hitting the ball hard on offense despite the outcome…
"I think, yesterday, the first day, we tried to do a little too much. At least for myself, I tried to just simplify things and it ended up working out."
On playing in an NCAA Regional…
"At least for me, I'm originally from Miami. So, coming back here and representing the state of Maine, I think, was pretty cool and I think we represented it pretty well. And I think we didn't stop fighting and we kept going. So, I'm proud of the boys and I'm proud of where we came and hopefully we can keep it going."
Carson Fluno (4-1) tossed seven innings with three strikeouts as Louisiana (41-23), staved off elimination and tied the school-record for most runs scored in a NCAA Regional game. Louisiana's 19 runs tied the mark set in a 19-8 win over the University of Houston at the 1999 NCAA Houston Regional.
Louisiana, which recorded 17 hits and scored nine runs in the seventh inning to take a 19-5 lead, advanced to face the loser of Miami (Fla.) and Texas on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
Brock opened the scoring for Louisiana in the second inning when his one-out single to center scored Heath Hood. After a walk to John Taylor, freshman Caleb Stelly would follow with an RBI single before an RBI grounder by CJ Willis and Max Marusak's RBI single would cap a four-run inning off Maine starter Caleb Leys (5-1).
DeBarge gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning with a three-run blast to left field after Stelly was hit by a pitch and Willis drew a walk.
Brock would fuel another three-run inning for Louisiana when his RBI single to left scored Hood, who reached on a leadoff error before advancing to third on Higgs' single through the right side. Taylor, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate, then laced a two-run double into the gap to give Louisiana a 10-3 lead after five innings.
Maine (32-21), a seven-time College World Series participant and making its first trip to the NCAA Regionals since 2011, scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning on Dean O'Neill's home run to left to get the Black Bears to within 10-5 before Louisiana ran away with its nine-run frame in the seventh.
Higgs opened the inning with a walk, stole second and scored on Brock's double into the gap before Taylor, Stelly and Willis each singled as Louisiana recorded eight hits in the inning and sent 12 men to the plate.
Roccaforte would drive in Willis and DeBarge with a three-run blast to left field for the Ragin' Cajuns before Higgs belted a home run off the scoreboard in left to drive in Hood.
All nine starters in the lineup for Louisiana recorded at least one hit with eight players driving in at least two runs.
Leys surrendered seven runs on five hits in 4.0 innings for the Black Bears with Gianni Gambardella allowing eight hits and seven earned runs in 2.0 innings of work. O'Neill had three hits and drove in five runs for Maine with Jake Rainess and Jake Marquez recording three hits each.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
2023 NCAA CORAL GABLES REGIONAL – GAME 3 QUOTE SHEET
LOUISIANA 19, MAINE 10
Louisiana Head Coach Matt Deggs
Opening statement…
"Hard-fought game yesterday. It really came down to about three feet, maybe closer than that. It was a bitter pill to swallow. We got up about 5 o'clock this morning and we've been at the ballpark since 9 a.m. And we took BP like it was the first game of the year and proceeded to sit through a two-hour rain delay and then fly around the bases about as well as you can fly around the bases and compete with about as much energy as you can compete with. And that's why I love these guys. They're so much fun to coach. And they just love to play and that showed today."
Louisiana Infielder Kyle DeBarge
On the performance of Caleb Stelly…
"We always say Stelly's takes are predetermined takes. He has a great eye for the zone. When he does swing, it's always a barrel. He had great at bats. It was everything we thought was going to happen."
Louisiana Outfielder Caleb Stelly
On what Saturday's game was like given lineup shuffles…
"They told me before the game that I was playing, kind of late. I found out today. I looked through the lineup and saw my name on there. Like Coach Deggs said, we work hard. We fly around the bases all the time. We're always working. I think I was ready. They got me ready. The older guys got me ready."
Louisiana Catcher Julian Brock
On his impressive performance on his birthday…
"Hard to say. I really want to say the birthday had something to do with it. I was struggling a little bit throughout the conference tournament and yesterday. I needed to continue to stay where I had to be, adjust a little bit and worked out a little bit today. Looking
Maine head coach Nick Derba
Opening statement…
"Well, it's a good season for us overall. We finished out, we're getting eliminated in a Regional game. It's a building block for us in general. It's good for our returners to see what it really takes to be a national contender. For us, it's a step in the right direction, without a doubt."
Maine catcher Dean O'Neill
On his two-home run day…
"I just saw fastballs and if I saw an off-speed, I adjusted to it. Just looking to put my best swing on the ball and it just so happened to go out."
On playing in an NCAA Regional…
"Although the result wasn't what we wanted, this is my first year. I'm a freshman. This is the coolest experience for me, going on a plane to a Regional. I mean, a year ago today, I was sitting on my couch watching Regionals on TV, thinking, 'Man, this is the coolest thing ever and I'm going to a program where I'm gonna get the opportunity to play in a Regional.' And I did today and it was really, really cool to experience it, play in it. I thought it was amazing."
Maine infielder Jake Marquez
On his team hitting the ball hard on offense despite the outcome…
"I think, yesterday, the first day, we tried to do a little too much. At least for myself, I tried to just simplify things and it ended up working out."
On playing in an NCAA Regional…
"At least for me, I'm originally from Miami. So, coming back here and representing the state of Maine, I think, was pretty cool and I think we represented it pretty well. And I think we didn't stop fighting and we kept going. So, I'm proud of the boys and I'm proud of where we came and hopefully we can keep it going."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fluno, Carson (4-1)
L: Caleb Leys (5-1)
Batting:
2B: Matt McElwain 1 ; Jake Marquez 1
HR: Jeremiah Jenkins 1 ; Dean O'Neill 2 ; Jake Marquez 1
RBI: Jake Rainess 1 ; Quinn McDaniel 1 ; Jeremiah Jenkins 1 ; Dean O'Neill 5 ; Jake Marquez 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jeremiah Jenkins 1 ; Nick White 1 ; Matt McElwain 2 ; Dean O'Neill 3 ; Jake Marquez 3
CS: Jake Rainess 1
Batting:
2B: Brock, Julian 1 ; Taylor, John 1
HR: DeBarge, Kyle 1 ; Roccaforte, Carson 1 ; Higgs, Conor 1
RBI: Marusak, Max 2 ; DeBarge, Kyle 3 ; Roccaforte, Carson 3 ; Higgs, Conor 2 ; Brock, Julian 3 ; Taylor, John 2 ; Stelly, Caleb 2 ; Willis, CJ 2
SH: Hood, Heath 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeBarge, Kyle 2 ; Roccaforte, Carson 1 ; Hood, Heath 3 ; Higgs, Conor 3 ; Brock, Julian 3 ; Taylor, John 2 ; Stelly, Caleb 3 ; Willis, CJ 2
SB: Marusak, Max 1 ; Higgs, Conor 1
HBP: Stelly, Caleb 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
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/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
BSB Drew Markle
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