Baseball: Cajuns Baseball Falls In 11 Innings To Golden Eagles, 15-11

LAFAYETTE, La. – Southern Miss scored four runs in the 11th inning as the 16th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team fell 15-11 in the series finale against the Golden Eagles on Sunday afternoon at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

“Even though we lost today we still had a 3-1 week,” head coach Tony Robichaux said. “It’s something we are going to have to build on. We had a chance to win an ugly game at the end there if we get the squeeze down. It’s tough to sweep a team, but if we play good defense and limit the number of walks we could have come away with this one today.”

Freshman right-hander Jack Burk saw his record drop to 0-2 after giving up two runs on a hit and a walk in 2.2 innings of work. Starter Evan Guillory went 4.2 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

USM reliever Matt Wallner captured his second win of the season after tossing 4.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. The Cajuns ran Southern Miss starter Cody Carroll in the second inning after he gave up six runs on seven hits.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (6-4) had a season-best 16 hits in the loss led by freshman designated hitter Todd Lott who went 3-for-5 two RBI and scored two runs. Third baseman Joe Robbins and catcher Handsome Monica also had three hits in the contest, while first baseman Alex Pinero extended his hit streak to nine games.

Shortstop Tracy Hadley led Southern Miss (8-3) offensively going 3-for-6 with two RBI and three runs.

Louisiana got on the board first with an RBI single to right by Lott in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 advantage.

The Ragin’ Cajuns plated five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second to jump out to a 6-0 lead. An Edwards two-run triple to left center highlighted the scoring in the inning.

Southern Miss clawed its way back into the contest scoring a run in the fourth and posted a four-run frame in the fifth capped by a two-run homer by third baseman Taylor Braley to cut the Cajuns lead to 6-5.

Louisiana got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth on a sac fly to centerfield by Monica, but the Golden Eagles responded with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh on a two-run homer to right center by Wallner to grab an 8-7 edge.

The Cajuns regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of two-run singles by Pinero and Robbins to make the score 11-8.

The Ragin’ Cajuns saw the lead slip away again in the top of the eighth as the Golden Eagles scored three unearned runs to knot the game at 11-all.

Louisiana threatened in the bottom of the tenth moving a runner to third with one out. Centerfielder Ishmael Edwards went down swinging for the second out of the inning after failing to get a squeeze bunt down. In the next at bat, Lott grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.

The Golden Eagles exploded for four runs in the top of the 11th to avoid the sweep. Catcher Cole Donaldson broke the tie with a two-run triple to centerfield. USM added two more runs on an RBI single by Storme Cooper and an RBI double by Hadley to make the final 15-11.

Louisiana returns to action on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. as the squad heads back on the road to face Tulane at Turchin Stadium. Fans can listen to the contest on News Talk 96.5-FM with Jay Walker and Jeff Schneider calling the action.

For the latest updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin’ Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.

— Ragin’ Cajuns —

Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas:
Click here for game photo gallery posted on the Lafayette Advertiser website.