PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team picked up a 5-1 victory against No. 15 Coastal Carolina on Saturday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park to clinch the squad’s fifth straight series win.
The win moves the Ragin’ Cajuns (28-20, 14-9 SBC) into first place in the West Division as the Cajuns are a half-game ahead of Little Rock.
Junior Hogan Harris notched his fourth straight quality start of the season limiting the Chanticleers (31-16, 17-6 SBC) to one run on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. The victory improves Harris to 4-1 on the year.
Coastal starter Jason Bilous was tagged with his second loss of the year after surrendering five runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk in 6.2 innings.
The series loss for the Chants snaps a streak of 11 straight series won by Coastal Carolina.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Junior Daniel Lahare scored twice in the game going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Lahare has a hit safely in nine straight contests to lead the team with the longest active streak. Senior Zach LaFleur also scored two runs on the night going 1-for-2 with a sac bunt.
On the mound, junior Nick Lee and senior Logan Stoelke combined to toss 3.0 perfect innings to close out the game as Stoelke registered three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Coastal Carolina grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly to left field by Zach Biermann.
Louisiana evened the contest at 1-all in the bottom half of the fourth on a sac fly to left field by Gavin Bourgeois.
The Ragin’ Cajuns went in front 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Kennon Fontenot scored from second base on a throwing error by Bilous. Later in the inning, Jonathan Windham drove in LaFleur on a sac fly to right field to give the Cajuns a 3-1 edge.
Louisiana added a run in the sixth on another Coastal error as Lahare scored from second base to increase the advantage to 4-1.
The Cajuns added an insurance run in the bottom of seventh when Tyler Stover brought home LaFleur from third base on a bunt back to the pitcher to extend the lead to 5-1.
Stoelke came on in the eighth inning and closed out the game retiring all six batters he faced to seal the victory.
UP NEXT
The Ragin’ Cajuns go for the sweep of No. 15 Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Russo Park. Sophomore right-hander Jack Burk will make the start for Louisiana.
Fans can listen to the game on News Talk 96.5-FM with Jay Walker and Brad Topham on the call. Live stats and video are available on RaginCajuns.com.
For the latest updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin’ Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.