Cajuns Edge FAU 5-2 for Robichaux’s 700th Win
The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 12-0 at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field

LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team used a little déjà vu to down Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon in nearly the same exact manner for the second game in a row. Tied 2-2, the Cajuns (19-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) scored a run in the seventh inning and a pair of runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-2 victory over FAU (18-9, 2-6 SBC) at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.

The win gave Tony Robichaux his 700th career victory as a Division I head coach.

On Friday night, tied 2-2, the Cajuns plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead and claim a 5-2 victory. The Cajuns claimed the series on Saturday afternoon in nearly the same manner.

After the Owls knotted the score in the top of the seventh inning, the Cajuns came back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Devon Bourque drew a
four-pitch walk to lead off the inning. Following a pitching change, Bourque moved to second base on a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Josh Logan advanced Bourque to third base. Bourque came in to score what would be the game-winning run on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.

The Cajuns added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jonathan Lucroy led off the inning with a single up the middle of the infield. Scott Hawkins followed with a double to left field. With a runner on second and third, a wild pitch plated the first run of the inning. A Devery Van De Keere single to left centerfield scored Hawkins and gave the Cajuns a 5-2 edge, which would prove to be the final score.

The game was a defensive battle between the two teams. Starting pitcher Hunter Moody (3-2) earned the win, working 7.0 innings. He scattered seven hits and allowed just a pair of runs. Moody struck out two batters while
walking just one.

Matt Pilgreen earned his first career save. The senior relief pitcher worked 2.0 innings of work. After surrendering a single to the first batter he faced, he struck out the next two batters he faced and induced a ground ball to end the inning. In the ninth inning, Pilgreen gave up an infield single, but was helped out by a double play. A fly ball ended the game and secured the victory for the Cajuns.

Offensively, Hawkins was the only Cajuns batter to record multiple hits. It was the 11th time this season that Hawkins had multiple hits in a game. He had a single and a double to lead the UL, while adding a run.

The Cajuns got things started in the third inning. Matt Hicks walked and advanced to second on a Justin Robichaux sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch moved Hicks to third base and a Josh Logan single through the right side scored the first run of the game.

The score would remain 1-0 until the fifth inning. With two outs, Bourque collected an infield single. Logan walked to give the Cajuns a pair of base runners. Nolan Gisclair singled through the left side to score Bourque from second base. The run increased the Cajuns lead to 2-0 after five complete innings.

The Owls cut into the Cajuns lead into the sixth inning. With two outs in the inning, Moody hit a batter on a 2-0 pitch. A single to centerfield gave FAU a pair of base runners. An RBI single through the left side halfed the UL lead.

Leading 2-1, Florida Atlantic tied the score in the top of the seventh inning. A single up the middle started the inning for the Owls. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. An RBI single to centerfield tied the score at 2-2.

The Cajuns scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning before adding a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning.

The Ragin’ Cajuns and Owls will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Tigue.

LOUISIANA SI