LAFAYETTE – Jordan Harrison pitched a complete game, one-hitter to lead Louisiana to a 2-1 win on Easter Sunday which claimed the series victory over Western Kentucky and on Monday was rewarded for his efforts by being named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week.

It’s the first weekly honor for Harrison, a junior college transfer from North Central Texas College, and the third of the 2012 season for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Chase Compton was named SBC Player of the Week on Feb. 27 and Jordan Nicholson was named SBC Pitcher of the Week on March 19.

“I think it’s good to receive any award when you’ve gone out and done your best and you were the best that week in the whole league,” head coach Tony Robichaux said. “I give credit to Jordan. It is always good for your program to have a player or pitcher of the week award.

“Jordan deserved the award. He threw a complete game for us, and not in a night game, but a day game. It was hot out on the turf and he overcame it.”

The Porter, Texas, native was one pitch shy of tossing a no-hitter as the only hit he allowed was a solo home run by WKU’s Ryan Huck in the second inning. 

Harrison allowed only three baserunners the rest of the way –  two walks and a hit by pitch – following Huck’s solo home run on the way to the first complete game, one-hitter by a Cajuns pitcher since Zach Osborne accomplished the feat on April 9, 2010 vs. Troy at “The Tigue”.

“After he gave up the home run I went over to him when he got in the dugout and said ‘hey we haven’t been scoring a lot of runs, so if we lose let’s lose 1-0. Don’t focus on the one run. Focus on what is in front of you,’” Robichaux mentioned. “I thought he did a good job of letting the home run go and coming back out each inning to do his job. He did a good job of bending and never breaking, and making big pitches at critical times of the game.”

After Huck’s home run, Harrison dialed back in by retiring 14 of the next 15 batters until a leadoff walk in the seventh inning.

He struck out 11 WKU batters, the first time a Cajuns pitcher fanned double figures since Zach Osborne struck out 11 against Middle Tennessee on April 30, 2010.

Harrison limited the Hilltoppers batters to a 1-for-28 showing at the plate, allowed the leadoff batter to reach only once in nine innings and faced just five batters over the minimum. Not a single WKU batter advanced past first base the entire contest.

Harrison was the only pitcher in the Sun Belt Conference to record a complete game victory over the weekend. His performance allowed Louisiana to pick up its first SBC series victory since the opening weekend of league play.

The Ragin’ Cajuns return to action on Tuesday, April 10 as they travel to Baton Rouge to face Southern in a midweek contest at Lee-Hines Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. This weekend, Louisiana is back at “The Tigue” hosting FIU (19-13, 7-5 Sun Belt) in a Sun Belt series Friday-Sunday, April 13-15.

ALL-TIME RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS (joined league in 1992)

2012: Jordan Nicholson (3/19); Jordan Harrison (4/9)

2011: Taylor Hubbell (3/1); Jordan Nicholson (5/9)

2010: Zach Osborne (3/22); Zach Osborne (4/12)

2009: Zach Osborne (4/6); Zach Osborne (4/27)

2008: Hunter Moody (2/26); Hunter Moody (3/2); Hunter Moody (3/24)

2006: Hunter Moody (2/23); Hunter Moody (3/14); Jason Fernandez (4/3); Buddy Glass (4/10); Jason Fernandez (4/17); Danny Farquhar (5/8)

2005: Kevin Ardoin (2/14); Kevin Ardoin (4/18)

2004: Kevin Ardoin (3/2); Kevin Ardoin (4/12)

2003: Kevin Ardoin (4/14); Jordy Templet (4/21); Andy Gros (5/5)

2002: Justin Gabriel (4/1); Andy Gros (4/22); Kraig Schambough (5/6)

2001: Eric Templet (4/16)

2000: Scott Dohmann (3/13); Eric Templet (5/1)

1999: Phil Devey (3/8); Alan Ochsner (4/12); Scott Dohmann (5/3)

1998: Phil Devey (3/9)

1997: Chad Bailey (3/24); Trey Poland (4/21)

1996: Chad Bailey (4/15)

1995: Jason Sheppard (3/27)

1992: Javi DeJesus (3/30); Scott Fishback (4/20); Javi DeJesus (5/11)

— Ragin’ Cajuns —