UL baseball tops Northwestern State

The Louisiana baseball team exploded for four runs in the first inning as the Ragin’ Cajuns captured a 7-3 victory on the road against in-state foe Northwestern State Wednesday at Brown-Stroud Field.
Gunner Leger earned his first career victory, limiting the Demons (1-4) to two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
Junior reliever Colton Lee came into the game and recorded five straight outs — including two strikeouts — to notch his first save in a Ragin’ Cajuns uniform.
“It was good to get runs early with a freshman on the mound,” Louisiana head coach Tony Robichaux said in a news release. “I thought Gunner pitched well and overcame some adversity. Both of our freshmen pitched well, and we came away with a victory against an in-state team.”
Joe Robbins led the Cajuns (2-2) at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, and equaled a career-high with four RBIs. Greg Davis, Stefan Trosclair and Evan Powell also had a pair of hits as Louisiana outhit its opponent for the fourth straight game, totaling 12 as a team.
Chase Daughdrill had the only multi-hit effort for Northwestern State, going 2-for-3 with a double and home run.
Starter Austin Tanner was handed the loss for the Demons, giving up four runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout as he failed to get out of the first inning.
Louisiana shortstop Blake Trahan got things going in the top of the first as he was hit by a pitch and stole second. Trahan scored on a single through the right side of the infield by Trosclair.
Later in the inning, Robbins sent a ball well over the fence in straight away center for a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3-0. Robbins’ home run was the second of both his season and his career.
Brenn Conrad capped the scoring in the inning for Louisiana with an RBI-single to right.
Northwestern State got on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI-double down the left field line by Joel Atkinson to make the score 4-1.
The Demons looked to have plated two runs on the play, but a relay from Trahan cut down Atkinson at third before the second run crossed the plate to end the inning.
Daughdrill cut the Cajuns’ lead to 4-2 on a towering solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The home run was Daughdrill’s first of the year.
The Ragin’ Cajuns regained a four-run lead, 6-2, in the top of the fifth on a sac fly to right by Robbins and an RBI-single to center by Powell.
Neither team would score until the Demons plated a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI-single to center by Colt Brinson.
Northwestern State had two on and one out later in the inning, but Lee came on to get a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.
The Cajuns plated the game’s final run on Robbins’ single through the left side of the infield in the top of the ninth, scoring Davis from second.
Louisiana returns to action this weekend as the Cajuns open their home slate Friday at 6 p.m. against Stony Brook in the first game of a three-game series. Game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, while the series finale will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tickets still are available for the 2015 season. Fans can order tickets by visiting RaginCajuns.com or by calling 337-265-2100.
For the latest news and updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow the squad on twitter @Cajunsbaseball.