Hunter Moody Sets New Wins Record in Murfreesboro
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Louisiana senior pitcher Hunter Moody (Clinton, La.) would not be denied in his second crack at school history as the left-hander became the school’s career wins leader Saturday to help the Ragin’ Cajuns earn a doubleheader split at Reese Smith Field.
Moody (5-2) was victorious for the 27th time in his storied Cajuns career, passing Andy Gros and Scott Dohmann for the all-time lead. Moody made an attempt to become the first Cajuns pitcher this season to toss a complete game, however, the senior was shelled for a single on his first pitch of the ninth inning.
Moody allowed two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in eight innings of work.
The lead-off single resulted in Moody’s exit in favor of fellow senior Buddy Glass (Clermont, Fla.). Glass earned his first career save forcing the Blue Raiders to hit into a game-ending double play.
After just three hits in game one, Louisiana (13-15, 6-8 Sun Belt) exploded for 10 hits, while Middle Tennessee (13-13-1, 6-7 Sun Belt) managed just eight.
Louisiana used a three-run home run from Scott Hawkins (Collierville, Tenn.) in the sixth inning to earn a doubleheader split Saturday, taking game two 4-2 at Reese Smith Field.
Hawkins finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Chance Harst (Lafayette, La.) rapped out a career-high three hits, going 3-for-4. Gisclair and Benzel each added two hits as well.
Middle Tennessee opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, striking first to take a 1-0 lead. Blake McDade delivered a one-out, bases-loaded RBI single to right field to score Burnett for the one-run lead.
The Blue Raiders added to their lead, 2-0, in the fourth. Hudson drilled a RBI double over Logan’s head in center field which allowed Brentz to score for the two-run advantage.
With two runners on, Louisiana squandered an opportunity to cut into Middle Tennessee’s two-run lead as the Blaine LaFleur (Opelousas, La.) hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Moody moved past Scott Dohmann into fifth place on the school’s career strikeouts list recording his 246th punch-out.
The Cajuns overcame their offensive shortcomings in the sixth using three runs on four hits to take a 3-2 lead. Logan reached on a one-out walk and was followed with Goulas’ single to left-center field. Hawkins then single-handedly helped Moody’s historical chase in the sixth inning as the All-American delivered a three-run home run that landed in the upper level concourse of Floyd Stadium.
Louisiana got an insurance run in the seventh as LaFleur scored on a Brad Robinson wild pitch for a 4-2 lead.
Louisiana and Middle Tennessee will square off in the rubber match of the three-game Sun Belt series Sunday at Reese Smith Field beginning at Noon.
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Chris Yandle
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Re: Hunter Moody Sets New Wins Record in Murfreesboro
