The 21st-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team saw its comeback bid come up short as the Cajuns fell 3-2 to Houston on Wednesday night at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
For only the third time this season, the Ragin’ Cajuns (31-18, 16-8 Sun Belt) lost a game where they outhit their opponent with an 8-7 edge over the Cougars (29-19) at the plate. Louisiana was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the contest.
“Sooner or later we have to get something going at the plate,” head coach Tony Robichaux said.
“We did walk two people and both of those walks scored. We have to take care of all of our business. We are going to have to continue to keep pitching and playing defense like we have been to keep ourselves in it. Someone is going to have to step up for us at the plate. Sooner or later we are going to have to score runs.”
Sophomore Evan Guillory (4-5) was handed his fifth loss of the season after giving up one run on one hit in three innings of work.
Houston starter John King (6-3) earned the victory limiting the Cajuns to two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings. King hit two batters, walked one and struck out three in the outing. Nick Hernandez tossed 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to tally his eight save of the year.
Offensively, Josh Vidales led the Cougars going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Brad Antchak had a pair of hits on the night for Louisiana.
Houston grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single by Vidales to right field.
The Cougars added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a Connor Hollis two-out RBI single up the middle.
Joe Davis increased the Houston advantage to 3-0 in the fifth scoring Michael Pyeatt from first base on a double down the left field line.
The Ragin’ Cajuns broke into the scoring column in the top of the seventh whenHunter Kasuls was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out to score Brenn Conrad. In the next at bat, Brian Mills pulled the Cajuns within a run, 3-2, on a sacrifice fly to right field. Hernandez kept Louisiana from evening the contest in the inning as he got Kyle Clement to pop up to third base to end the threat.
In the top of the ninth, the Ragin’ Cajuns put the tying run into scoring position with a one-out double down the left field line by Kennon Fontenot. Hernandez again bore down seeing Kasuls pop up and Mills go down swinging to end the contest.
The Cajuns continue their five-game road swing this weekend as the squad heads to Mobile, Ala. to face South Alabama. First pitch Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Eddie Stanky Field.
