LAFAYETTE (Press Release) – Four Maryland runs in the middle innings, including a three-spot in the top of the fifth, was the deciding factor in Friday’s series opener as Louisiana fell to the Terrapins, 4-2, at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.
Senior Gunner Leger, who suffered his first loss of the season, went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out six batters. Jacob Schultz was the only other pitcher used by Louisiana on Friday, seeing 4.1 innings of action and giving up three hits and one run. Schultz also fanned six batters.
At the plate, Daniel Lahare launched his first home run of the season in a 1-for-4 effort at the plate that included an RBI. Brennan Breaux came up with two hits in the game (2-for-4) and drew a walk.
Maryland’s (6-2) Hunter Parsons was credited with the win on Friday night, with John Murphy claiming the save.
Both pitchers were rock solid until the bottom of the fourth inning when Lahare found a favorable pitch from Parsons and blasted it over the right-center field wall to put Louisiana ahead, 1-0.
The Terrapins quickly responded in the top portion of the next frame, pulling ahead 3-1 with the help of a ground-rule double off the bat of Randy Bednar and two costly Ragin’ Cajuns’ errors.
Louisiana pulled within 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Hayden Cantrelle crossed home on a fielder’s choice. However, the Ragin’ Cajuns could not plate any further runs as they dropped the opening game.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader due to projected rain on Sunday. Game One will begin at 2 p.m., with Game Two beginning approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first.
