Baseball: Louisiana Blanks Texas State To Win Series

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. – The 20th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team got another stellar performance from the pitching staff as the Cajuns shut out Texas State 1-0 on Sunday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field to win the squad’s eighth series of the year.
 
The shutout is the fourth of the season for the Ragin’ Cajuns who improve to 27-13 overall and 12-6 in league play. The Cajuns also improve to 17-3 at home this season.
 
"Today was just the game paying us back," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "We gave them one yesterday, and then they gave us one today. You saw what pitching and defense can do you for you right there. This win was big for us to be able to come back on a Sunday and get a win. You have to be able to come back from a loss and get a win if you want to a championship team."
 
Starter Nick Lee went six scoreless innings in a no decision and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts. Lee walked three in the outing and only surrendered two hits.
 
Eric Carter and Dylan Moore were good in relief coming on to hold the Bobcats (22-19, 10-8 Sun Belt) scoreless over the final three frames. Carter (2-0) earned his second victory of the season after tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Moore came on in the eighth and recorded a six-out save to pick up his tenth save of the season and 23rd of his career.
 
Texas State starter Jonathan Hennigan held Louisiana scoreless in six innings of work with three walks and four strikeouts. Reliever Anthony Pagano (0-1) was tabbed with the loss after giving up one run on two walks in 0.2 innings.
 
Offensively, the Bobcats outhit the Cajuns 4-3 with Tanner Hill going 2-for-4 at the plate. The Ragin’ Cajuns drew eight walks in the contest with Stefan Trosclair, Steven Sensley, and Brenn Conrad each reaching twice on free passes.
 
The Cajuns put a runner in scoring position in four of the first five innings but could not find an answer to push across the first run of the game.
 
Texas State threatened in the top of the fourth loading the bases with one out on two walks and a Hill single. Lee bore down and got Dylan Paul to strike out swinging and Luke Sherley to fly out to right field to end the inning unscathed.
 
After six scoreless innings, the Cajuns loaded the bases drawing three straight two-out walks. Following a Texas State pitching change, Sensley drew a four-pitch walk from right-hander Chase Hodson to bring home the winning run.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns then turned to more Moore who allowed just one runner to reach in the final two innings to seal the victory for the Cajuns.
 
Louisiana returns to action on Tuesday as 6 p.m. as the team heads to Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Miss in the first of five games on the week. The Cajuns then host Louisiana Tech on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before heading to UT Arlington for a three-game series next weekend.
 
For updates and info on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow the squad on twitter @CajunsBaseball or check RaginCajuns.com.