UL - Reigning Sun Belt Conference and LSWA Pitcher of the Week Hunter Moody (Clinton, La.) threw another gem on Sunday. Moody combined for his second shutout in two starts to open the 2008 season as the southpaw struck out a season-high 10 batters to help the 25th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to a 2-0 win over No. 29 Southern Miss at “The Tigue”.

Moody’s 10 strikeouts were the most since he struck out a career-high 12 against Minnesota on March 17, 2006.

With the win, Louisiana (3-5) snapped its five-game losing streak, while earning its first victory at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field this season.

Moody (2-0) scattered four hits, while walking one batter on 120 pitchers in seven innings of solid work. Matt Broussard (Breaux Bridge, La.) was part of another combined shutout for the Cajuns, tossing one inning of no-hit middle relief. Sophomore Justin Robichaux (Crowley, La.) came on in the ninth, effectively closing the door on the Golden Eagles (6-2) for his second save.

Scott, La. native Josh Billeaud was the losing pitcher for Southern Miss, suffering his first loss of the season. Billeaud allowed two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Five different Cajuns recorded a hit, including Robichaux and Matt Hicks (Houston, Texas) who each drove in a run for Louisiana.

Louisiana was the first team to crack the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With two on and one out, head coach Tony Robichaux called for the double steal, putting William Long (Valrico, Fla.) and Matt Goulas (New Iberia, La.) in scoring position. Justin Robichaux followed with a RBI groundout to score Long for a 1-0 Cajuns lead.

Although Moody allowed two baserunners in the first inning, he didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning when Drew Carson reached on a perfectly executed bunt single. Three of Moody’s four hits allowed were bunts.

It took another five innings before the Cajuns could add another run. In the home half of the eighth, Long led off with a single up the middle and later advanced to second on a Goulas sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Long scored the Cajuns’ insurance run on Hicks’ infield RBI single.

Then, in the ninth, Robichaux retired the Southern Miss side, snapping Louisiana’s five-game losing streak.

Louisiana returns to action Tuesday, March 4 when the Ragin’ Cajuns travel to Houston to face the Houston Cougars at 6:30 p.m. The Cajuns will then return home to host the Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. Game time was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., but was moved up an hour because Louisiana is hosting a first round game in the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Championship.


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Chris Yandle