MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Louisiana jumped out to an early five-run lead, while using a solid pitching performance from Michael Cook (Lafayette, La.) as the Ragin’ Cajuns defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 8-4 in the series rubber match Sunday.

Louisiana freshman Michael Cook (Lafayette, La.) tossed another spectacular outing, earning his fourth win of the season. Cook (4-2) went seven innings and was touched for three runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Buddy Glass (Clermont, Fla.) sealed his second save in as many chances, tossing 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.

Middle Tennessee’s Chad Edwards (2-1) suffered his first blemish of the season as he was victimized for five runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Jordan Alvis went 4 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on four hits.

Matt Hicks (Houston, Texas) paced the Cajuns with a team-high three RBI on 2-for-3 with a home run. Nolan Gisclair (Marrero, La.) drove in two runs on two hits, while Scott Hawkins (Collierville, Tenn.) added a two-run exclamation point in the seventh.

Hicks delivered the Cajuns’ first blow in the second with a two-run home run to left field, giving Louisiana a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders wasted a premium opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the home half of the second inning. Middle Tennessee loaded the bases after Cook plunked Drew Robertson with two outs. However, Cook settled down to strike out Taylor Dennis to deny the Blue Raiders any runs.

Louisiana drove the dagger into Middle Tennessee’s hopes of winning the series in the third off the bat of Gisclair. Gisclair, with the bases loaded, was two feet away from a grand slam, sending a two-RBI double to the wall in left-center. Josh Logan (Magee, Miss.) and Hawkins both scored for the 4-0 lead.

Hicks followed with an insurance RBI sacrifice fly which scored Gisclair for the 5-0 advantage.

Middle Tennessee broke the Cajuns’ scoreless stranglehold on Blake McDade’s solo home run to right-center in the fourth inning. The Blue Raiders were able to put runners on the corners with two out, but Cook forced Tyler Burnett to fly out to center to end the inning.

The Cajuns bombarded the Blue Raiders with three more runs in the seventh. Matt Goulas (New Iberia, La.) opened the scoring with an infield RBI single before Hawkins cleared the bases with a mammoth two-run blast over the left field fence for an 8-1 Cajuns lead.

Cook was tagged for two runs and Gregory Harmon (Crowley, La.) for one in the eighth inning as the Blue Raiders cut into the seven-run deficit, 8-4. However, Glass was able to keep the damage to a minimum, retiring the final two batters.

Louisiana returns home for the first of a five-game stretch this week as the Ragin’ Cajuns host the Northwestern State Demons Tuesday at “The Tigue” for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

RaginCajuns.com

Chris Yandle