HOUSTON – Louisiana took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but Houston scored 12 unanswered runs to deny the Ragin' Cajuns of a road victory 14-8 Tuesday night at Cougar Field.

Louisiana (3-6) was in line to snap its six-game losing streak to the Cougars (5-4) and seal its first victory at Houston since winning the 1999 NCAA Regional until the bullpen fell apart. The Cougars erased the Cajuns' six-run lead with a three runs in the fifth and a seven-spot in the sixth.

Louisiana starter Buddy Glass (Clermont, Fla.) did not factor into the final pitching decision as the senior allowed two runs on one hit in four innings of work. Glass walked three batters, while striking out two on 62 pitches. Luke Wagley (Greenwell Springs, La.) was the hard-luck loser for the Cajuns, allowing two runs in one-third of an inning.

In all, seven Cajuns relievers combined to allow 12 runs – 9 earned – on 12 hits with just two strikeouts, facing 29 batters.

Houston's Jimmy Raviele (1-1) earned his first victory of the season, allowing one run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of middle relief. Bryan Tully earned his second save of the season.

Preseason All-American Scott Hawkins (Collierville, Tenn.) extended his hitting streak to three games, going 3-for-4 with a career-high-tying four RBI. Nolan Gisclair (Marrero, La.) went 2-for-4 with two RBI.


Four Cougars recorded at least two hits with Ryan Lormand leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance. Zac Presley drove in three runs.

Glass removed himself from an early jam in the first inning, keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard. Blake Kelso led off with a triple over the head of centerfielder Josh Logan (Magee, Miss.). However, Kelso was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice and Ryan Lormand later hit into a double play, thwarting Houston's scoring opportunity.

Louisiana struck first in the top of the fourth inning as the Cajuns scored two runs on three hits to take a 2-0 lead. With one out, Justin Robichaux (Crowley, La.) drilled a single into left center and later advanced to third on Matt Hicks' (Houston, Texas) double down the left field line.

Hawkins cleared the bases with a one-out two-RBI double to left center, giving Louisiana a 2-0 lead.

Louisiana blew the game open in the ensuing fifth inning as the Cajuns used another two-run base hit by Hawkins to extend their lead. Gisclair singled through the left side to start the fifth. Two batters later, Gisclair scored on a Logan RBI sacrifice bunt for a 3-0 Cajuns advantage.

Matt Goulas (New Iberia, La.) and Robichaux singled up the middle and drew a four-pitch walk, respectively, before Hicks approached the plate. The Houston native then drilled a RBI single through the right side for a 4-0 lead.

Hawkins followed with a two-out, bases-clearing two-RBI single to left field, scoring Robichaux and Hicks, to take full control of the game, 6-0.

The fifth inning once again gave Louisiana's pitching staff troubles. Glass walked Bryan Pounds and Austin Goolsby at the start of the fifth inning and had a 2-0 count on Bryan Tully before being relieved by Matt Broussard (Breaux Bridge, La.). Broussard walked Tully to load the bases for Felix Fanaselle who delivered a two-RBI single through the right side, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Tully later scored on a Kelso RBI ground out to cut the Cajuns lead in half, 6-3.

Louisiana's bullpen continued to unravel in the sixth as the Cougars scored seven runs to take a 10-6 lead. Houston took advantage of timely hitting as the Cougars batted one time through the lineup. Lormand tallied two hits in the inning – Houston's first and last.

Houston added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to take a commanding 12-6 lead.

A two-out, two-RBI single by Gisclair in the eighth cut the Houston lead to four runs, 12-8. The Cajuns had a chance for more damage but pinch hitter Kolin Hatfield (Cypress, Texas) popped up to end the inning.

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RaginCajuns.com

Chris Yandle