LAFAYETTE – Louisiana cut two, five-run deficits to one run during Sunday’s ballgame but was unable to find a way past Texas State, falling to the Bobcats in the series finale, 10-8 at Russo Park.
After Sunday’s result, the Ragin’ Cajuns (20-27, 8-13) have been swept in back-to-back Sun Belt series for the first time since 2009 when it dropped consecutive league matchups with ULM (April 10-11) and South Alabama (April 17-19).
There were plenty of chances for Louisiana to steal the final game, outhitting Texas State, 13-7, in the finale and leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh frame.
Daniel Lahare and O’Neal Lochridge led the charge offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate and adding three RBI and two RBI, respectively. One of Lochridge’s hits was a solo shot over the right-field wall in the second inning, the third dinger of his collegiate career and his first as a Ragin’ Cajun.
Sophomore Hayden Cantrelle knocked in three hits in the game, the sixth time he has produced three or more hits this year, while Todd Lottadded two hits of his own. Orynn Veillon produced one hit, an RBI single in the seventh, to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
Despite holding the Bobcats to just seven hits, the pitching staff allowed 13 free bases, ten of which were walks. Logan Savoy fell to 1-2 on the year, giving up four earned runs on one hit in a third of an inning of action. Sophomore Jacob Schultz was Louisiana’s longest tenured relief pitcher, throwing 4.0 innings of two-hit, one-run ball with three strikeouts.
Texas State (31-13, 15-6) went all in early on, scoring five runs in the opening inning of the game. Louisiana countered with two runs in the bottom of that frame off the bat of Lahare before scoring a run in the second and third innings to cut the lead to 5-4.
The Bobcats extended their lead out to 9-4, its second five-run advantage of the game, on two singles in the fourth frame and a single in the sixth.
Needing another big push, Louisiana once again did just that by scoring four runs on two singles, an RBI groundout and an RBI fielder’s choice to pull within 9-8 with two outs. A single and a hit batter later saw the Ragin’ Cajuns load the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat.
That opportunity proved to be the team’s best chance to get back into the game as Texas State added an insurance run in the top of the eighth and then sat down the next six Ragin’ Cajuns to secure the 10-8 victory and the series sweep.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsBSB) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball) or by checking RaginCajuns.com.
