Cajuns win 2015 Sun Belt Tournament Title

Junior second baseman Stefan Trosclair drove in five runs and came through with the game-winning, two-out grand slam in the top of the 12th to lift the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team to a 5-1 victory against South Alabama in the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.
The tournament championship is the second straight for the Cajuns (39-21) and third in program history. Louisiana-Lafayette becomes only the second program to win back-to-back titles in Sun Belt history, joining the Jaguars (37-20), who won titles in 2000 and 2001.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are also the first team since Florida International in 2010 to lose their tournament opener and come back to win the title. Louisiana-Lafayette posted five straight victories after dropping the opener to Texas State.
The tournament championship marks the third straight season that the Cajuns will advance to the NCAA regionals. Louisiana-Lafayette has accomplished that feat only two other times in program history, 1990-92 and 1997-2000.
“We fought a very gritty team,” Louisiana-Lafayette coach Tony Robicheaux said in a news release. “I think we are the two best teams in the conference this year, and it played out that way. … I’m proud of our ball club, not just because of the wins, but because of how they responded from that first game loss.”
Trosclair, the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player, was one of three Cajuns to post a multi-hit effort in the contest, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs. Blake Trahan and Kyle Clement also had a pair of hits, with Clement scoring a game-high two runs.
Freshman left-hander Gunner Leger was outstanding in the start, holding the league’s top offense to one run on five hits in eight innings in a no decision. Leger struck out four and walked just two after making his second start of the tournament on just three days of rest.
Senior right-hander Greg Milhorn (4-1) picked up the victory, tossing four scoreless innings in relief. Milhorn surrendered just one hit and struck out one, facing just one above the minimum.
The Cajuns defense came up with several big plays as they turned a season-high three double plays.
“Gunner did a great job today on three days’ rest, gutting it out for us and keeping the game close, because if you get to behind too much on those arms, you are going to be finished,” Robichaux said. “They put us in a position where Trosclair got the barrel on top of the ball. That guy is throwing very hard. If you can put leverage on him, the ball is going to jump. Stefan put some good leverage on him and got the ball out of the ballpark.”
Reliever Ben Taylor (6-3), a first-team All-Sun Belt selection, suffered the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in six innings. Taylor struck out three and had four intentional walks.
South Alabama starter Kevin Hill, the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, limited the Cajuns to one run on five hits in six innings in a no decision. Hill struck out a game-high five with two walks, making the start on two days’ rest.
Trosclair gave the Cajuns a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out single up the middle, scoring Clement from second. Clement doubled to right in the previous at bat.
The Jaguars tied the game in the bottom half of the third as first baseman Ben Gann doubled down the right field line to score centerfielder Cole Billingsley from first.
Louisiana broke the tie in the top of the 12th to take a 5-1 edge.
Trosclair drove a 1-0 pitch from Taylor over the 30-foot wall in right-center for the squad’s first grand slam this season. The home run was Trosclair’s 16th this season and his third at the tournament.
The Cajuns had four players named to the all-tournament team as Leger, Dylan Moore and Clement joined Trosclair on the list.
The Cajuns found out where they were headed for the NCAA tournament today at 11 a.m. as the tournament selection show was broadcast on ESPNU.
ULL 6, Texas State 2
After shutting out Texas State earlier in the day, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team got out to an early lead and never looked back as the squad defeated the Bobcats 6-2 Saturday.
Starter Will Bacon limited the Bobcats to two runs on six hits in a season-high 6.1 innings. Bacon struck out three and walked two en route to his fifth win this year.
Moore made his second appearance of the day in the contest. Moore added 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to notch his 11th save of the year and tie the school record set by Matt Hicks in 2013. The right-hander had two strikeouts and two walks.
Lucas Humpal suffered his seventh loss this season after surrendering five runs — three earned — on six hits in 7.1 innings.
The Cajuns edged Texas State in hitting, 9-8.
Trosclair matched his career-high with three hits in the nightcap. Trosclair scored twice and drove in a run.
ULL 3, Texas State 0
Freshmen Wyatt Marks and Moore combined to post the first shutout of the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team blanked Texas State 3-0 Saturday to force a winner-take-all semifinal game.
Marks was fantastic in the start as he equaled a season-best tossing seven scoreless innings while scattering four hits with eight strikeouts. Marks allowed just one runner past first base.
Moore also was solid as he earned the save. The right-hander was perfect in two innings while recording two strikeouts.
Texas State starter Cory Geisler was tabbed with his second loss of the year after giving up three runs on five hits in a career-high 6.1 innings. Geisler struck out three and walked just one.
Trahan and designated hitter Tyler Girouard each had two hits and drove in a run for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
ULL 5, UTA 1
The Louisiana-Lafayette baseball team advanced to face Texas State after defeating the University of Texas-Arlington 5-1 Friday in an elimination game.
Freshman right-hander Evan Guillory posted his sixth quality start of the season and second against the Mavericks (24-32) en route to his fourth victory this year. Guillory held UT- Arlington to one run on five hits in six innings while matching his career-high with seven strikeouts.
Reliever Chris Charpentier, a Berwick High alum, combined with Guillory to strike out 13, which ties the season-high for a nine-inning contest. Charpentier earned his first career save, tossing three scoreless innings to close out the game. He had three walks and six strikeouts.
“When you get this late in a tournament and you have to work your way back through the loser’s bracket, this kind of pitching performance is going to be really important,” Robichaux said in a news release. “Evan did a great job. We’ve been starting freshmen all year. They’ve done a phenomenal job, and tonight, he did a beautiful job for us.”
UTA starter Brad Vasser (2-7) took the loss after surrendering two runs on two hits in an inning of work.
Louisiana outhit UT-Arlington 12-5.
Clement led the Ragin’ Cajuns for the second straight day, going 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and scored twice. Trosclair and Girouard each had two hits, while Dylan Butler had a game-high two RBIs.