UL - Miami scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning, while the bullpen held 25th-ranked Louisiana to four hits during the final six innings to defeat the Ragin' Cajuns 3-1 Saturday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

Louisiana (2-5) has lost its first two home games of the season for the first time since 1985, while suffering its fifth straight loss. The Cajuns' five-game losing streak is the longest since the 2003 season (10 games).

Junior Luke Wagley (Greenwell Springs, La.) suffered the loss in relief, allowing two runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Miami's Bobby Oberschlake (1-1) gave up just one hit in 2 1/3 innings in relief, earning the victory.

Matt Hicks (Houston, Texas) went 3-for-5 with a double, while four other Cajuns recorded a hit.

Evan Armitage also went 3-for-5 for the RedHawks, while Brad Gschwind and Blake Chaffee each went 2-for-4.

Senior southpaw Brent Solich (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) was dealt the no-decision, scattering one run on seven hits in six innings of work. Solich struck out four batters, while walking two. Miami's starting pitcher Chris Niro also earned a no-decision as the right-hander was victimized for one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

After three scoreless innings, Louisiana cracked the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead. It was the Cajuns' first lead since holding a 2-0 lead at UTSA on Feb. 24.

Hicks led off with a double to right center and later advanced to third on Chance Harst's (Lafayette, La.) one-out single to right field. Cy Primeaux (Lafayette, La.) followed with a RBI single through the left side for a 1-0 Cajuns lead.

With two on and one out, the Cajuns were unable to push across any additional runs as Justin Robichaux (Crowley, La.) and Travis Whipple (Morgan City, La.) were retired to end the threat.

Miami provided the equalizing run in the sixth on a Chaffee RBI single that scored Josh Hula. The RedHawks posted three straight hits in the inning and almost scored a second run until Matt Goulas (New Iberia, La.) gunned out Gschwind at home.

Louisiana squandered an opportunity to take the lead in the home half of the sixth. With one out and the bases loaded, Robichaux grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the Cajuns scoring threat.

After exchanging three full scoreless innings, Miami put up the eventual game-winning runs in the visiting half of the 10th inning. Tommy Nurre laced a two-out RBI double to right center to plate Jon Edgington for a 2-1 Miami lead. Chris Nadeau followed with a RBI single to left field, giving the RedHawks the decisive 3-1 victory.

Louisiana will conclude its home-opening weekend when it hosts the Southern Miss Golden Eagles Sunday at 1 p.m. at "The Tigue".

RaginCajuns.com


Chris Yanlde