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Baseball: Cajuns Sweep Sun Belt And LSWA Weekly Awards – Chase Compton and Carson Baranik honored
LAFAYETTE, La. – Chase Compton and Carson Baranik were named this week’s Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Baseball Players of the Week as the duo helped lead the Cajuns to a 4-1 record on the week, including a midweek sweep of Southeastern Louisiana.
“I’m proud of those guys and what they were able to accomplish,” head coach Tony Robichaux said. “Anytime you have a good week it’s nice to know that you had a player of the week. Usually when you do that, it means that you won the weekend. I thought Baranik pitched an outstanding game and kept his pitch count down. He really attacked the zone and was able to get ahead of hitters consistently. Compton has continued to work hard and grind out at bats for us. What he was able to do at Southeastern and then in Jonesboro at that ballpark goes to show you how good of a week he had.”
The Cajuns also took two-of-three from second-place Arkansas State over the weekend led by Baranik’s two-hit, complete game shutout on Saturday. Baranik was named the SBC Pitcher of the Week for the first time since the opening weekend of play this season, while the LSWA honor is his first of the year.
Compton was named both the Sun Belt and LSWA Player of the Week after having a breakout week at the plate going 8-for-16 to raise his average over .300 for the first time on the season. Compton was influential in the team’s 4-1 week. On the week, Compton hit .500 with two walks, two doubles, a home run, four RBI and scored seven runs.
Compton also recorded a .619 on base percentage while slugging .813 was hit by a pitch three times and swiped three bases. The senior got things going in the first game as he delivered a 2-run homer in the top of the ninth with the team down to its last out to defeat Southeastern on the road 6-5. After going 2-for-4 against the Lions at home, Compton started the weekend in Jonesboro going 4-for-4 in two wins against Arkansas State to help guide the Cajuns to their 13th consecutive weekend series victory.
Baranik set a school record needing just 84 pitches to post a two-hit complete-game shutout against Arkansas State, the second best team in Sun Belt Conference play this year. The previous record was held by Cody Robbins against UNO in 1994.
The right-hander faced one over the minimum in the outing and did not allow a runner to reach second in the contest. Baranik retired the last 15 batters he faced and 25 of 26 to end the game.
The Bossier City, La., native posted seven strikeouts with no walks and only had one three-ball count. The complete-game shutout is the second of the year for Baranik who leads the conference with nine wins this season.
The Ragin’ Cajuns remained second in the Perfect Game rankings and third in Baseball America and NCBWA polls. Louisiana moved up three spots to third in the Collegiate Baseball rankings, while it dropped one spot to third in the USA Today Coaches Poll despite regaining its first place vote.
The Cajuns return to action this weekend in Mobile, Alabama as the squad will look to win the league’s regular season title. The series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.
— Ragin’ Cajuns —
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Jeff Schneider Cox Communications Athletics Center Office: (337) 482-6332
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