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Louisiana baseball’s bid for the Sun Belt Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance is still alive and well.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (35-21,17-14) handled Marshall with ease in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament on Tuesday, May 19 in Montgomery, Alabama. They exploded for an 11-1 run-rule victory over the Thundering Herd and moved one win closer to their goals.
“It was a business-like attitude by us,” UL baseball coach Matt Deggs said. “We weren’t thrilled to be in that play-in game. It was a nerve-wracking last three days and I just wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if this team didn’t get to keep playing.”
With UL getting its first tournament win under its belt, here are three key takeaways from the Cajuns’ win over Marshall.
In the Cajuns’ first set of at-bats, they were already playing from behind, having given up a run in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Blaze Rodriguez was ready to rally, leading things off with a single. Outfielder Noah Lewis followed with a single and three-hole hitter Lee Amedee tied it up with an RBI single.
That would be the start of a fruitful outing for Deggs' squad as they outhit the Thundering Herd 15-4.
Leading the Cajuns offense were Lewis and outfielder Mark Collins. Lewis ended the game with a team-high four hits and three RBIs and three runs, including a three-run homer. Collins added three hits and two RBIs while hitting out of the nine-hole after missing some games with a hand injury. Amedee and Rodriguez were also key contributors at the plate.
“It felt great to be back, got a lot of support from my teammates and my coaches,” Collins said. “They just let me know that whatever I can do to help contribute, do it. So it felt great to contribute.”
Junior Cody Brasch got the start on the bump against Marshall fresh off an SBC Pitcher of the Week performance to close the regular season. The righty picked up right where he left off.
Brasch is typically a swing-and-miss guy but he relied on putting the ball in play and letting the defense go to work behind him Tuesday. Despite committing three errors, they Cajuns kept Marshall’s lineup in check.
Parker Smith then held the Thundering Herd hitless in 1⅔ innings of relief.
UL was the more aggressive team from start to finish. From being stingy on defense to forcing the issue on the basepaths, there wasn’t anything the Cajuns were unwilling to try in the win.
“The team that hits this time of year holds a definitive advantage, especially if you got guys on the bump that are going to throw strikes,” Deggs said. “To make your way through any tournament, you’re gonna have to swing the bat and the team that gets the hottest comes out on top.”
The Cajuns will look to bottle this performance and carry it into Wednesday, when they will face No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina. Less than a week ago, UL took two of three games against the Chanticleers to close the regular season.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Three takeaways from Louisiana baseball's Sun Belt tournament win
Continue reading...
The Ragin’ Cajuns (35-21,17-14) handled Marshall with ease in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament on Tuesday, May 19 in Montgomery, Alabama. They exploded for an 11-1 run-rule victory over the Thundering Herd and moved one win closer to their goals.
“It was a business-like attitude by us,” UL baseball coach Matt Deggs said. “We weren’t thrilled to be in that play-in game. It was a nerve-wracking last three days and I just wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if this team didn’t get to keep playing.”
With UL getting its first tournament win under its belt, here are three key takeaways from the Cajuns’ win over Marshall.
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Louisiana baseball sees it like beach ball
In the Cajuns’ first set of at-bats, they were already playing from behind, having given up a run in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Blaze Rodriguez was ready to rally, leading things off with a single. Outfielder Noah Lewis followed with a single and three-hole hitter Lee Amedee tied it up with an RBI single.
That would be the start of a fruitful outing for Deggs' squad as they outhit the Thundering Herd 15-4.
Leading the Cajuns offense were Lewis and outfielder Mark Collins. Lewis ended the game with a team-high four hits and three RBIs and three runs, including a three-run homer. Collins added three hits and two RBIs while hitting out of the nine-hole after missing some games with a hand injury. Amedee and Rodriguez were also key contributors at the plate.
“It felt great to be back, got a lot of support from my teammates and my coaches,” Collins said. “They just let me know that whatever I can do to help contribute, do it. So it felt great to contribute.”
Solid outing for Cajuns pitching
Junior Cody Brasch got the start on the bump against Marshall fresh off an SBC Pitcher of the Week performance to close the regular season. The righty picked up right where he left off.
Brasch is typically a swing-and-miss guy but he relied on putting the ball in play and letting the defense go to work behind him Tuesday. Despite committing three errors, they Cajuns kept Marshall’s lineup in check.
Parker Smith then held the Thundering Herd hitless in 1⅔ innings of relief.
Cajuns keep applying pressure
UL was the more aggressive team from start to finish. From being stingy on defense to forcing the issue on the basepaths, there wasn’t anything the Cajuns were unwilling to try in the win.
“The team that hits this time of year holds a definitive advantage, especially if you got guys on the bump that are going to throw strikes,” Deggs said. “To make your way through any tournament, you’re gonna have to swing the bat and the team that gets the hottest comes out on top.”
The Cajuns will look to bottle this performance and carry it into Wednesday, when they will face No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina. Less than a week ago, UL took two of three games against the Chanticleers to close the regular season.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Three takeaways from Louisiana baseball's Sun Belt tournament win
Continue reading...
