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JONESBORO, Ark. – Chad Keefer, Michael Cook and Blake Haagen led the Cajuns to win No. 5 on the season with a 3-2 victory over the Arkansas Red Wolves Saturday, improving to 5-6-1 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference action and evening the series at 1-1 heading into the finale.
Arkansas State dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt play, thanks to converted scoring opportunities for the Cajuns in the fourth and sixth innings, the same two innings in which the Red Wolves touched the plate. Chad Keefer led the way from the plate with two RBIs, while Cook provided a solid outing from the mound and Haagen got the save.
Both teams put up six hits, while the Cajuns struck out eight times against the Red Wolves’ three strikeouts. Each team committed one error, with Greg Fontenot picking up his fifth of the season.
Michael Cook went an even seven innings in his third start of the season, giving up two runs, both earned, on six hits, two strikeouts and no walks. He is now 2-1 on the young schedule. Arkansas State starter Jett Jones dropped to 0-2 following his five inning outing, allowing two runs, both earned, on five hits, three strikeouts and one walk.
Greg Harmon entered in relief to start the eighth and registered just one out while walking one batter and plunking another. Blake Haagen took the mound in the same inning with two runners on base and walked the bases loaded before inducing a groundout to get himself and Harmon out of the jam.
Haagen returned for the ninth, recording a strikeout and two fly outs to end the game and earn the save, his second of the season.
Chad Keefer (.326) went 2-for-4 with two singles and two RBIs, including the game winner in the sixth to lead the Cajuns offensively. Les Smith (1-3, .267) provided the other RBI, while Scott Hawkins (1-4, .300), Brian Bowman (1-3, .214) and Tyler Benzel (1-3, .385) each recorded a hit.
Les Smith knocked in the first run for the Cajuns in the top of the fourth, sending Scott Hawkins across the plate from third on a single up the middle. Chad Keefer drove in Tyler Benzel in the next at bat on a line drive to left to give the Cajuns a two-run advantage heading to the bottom of the fourth.
The Cajuns gifted Arkansas State a run in the next half-inning. On what should have been a 4-6-3 double play ball, Fontenot lost his handle on the glove-hand transfer after getting the force out at second. A runner scored and the Red Wolves threatened again by putting runners on first and second before ripping a line drive to right field. The lead runner took his time coming home and Les Smith made him pay, saving the Cajuns from giving up any more runs by gunning him down easily at home.
Keefer picked up his second RBI by again driving in Benzel on a line drive to left, bumping the Cajuns’ lead to 3-1 in the sixth.
Cook gave up Arkansas State’s second run with a double and an RBI single, both with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. That completed the scoring for both teams, the seventh, eighth and ninth innings passing uneventfully.
The Cajuns wrap up their series with the Red Wolves at 1 p.m. Sunday. View live statistics of the game on RaginCajuns.com
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