Comeback trail ends.
Raiders eliminate Cajuns


LOUISIANA La. — It’s not often that one play makes such a big difference in what winds up as a 10-2 game.

But this has not been a typical season for Louisiana’s baseball team.

The Cajuns had battled back from an early 2-0 deficit against Middle Tennessee in their Friday evening Sun Belt Conference Tournament contest, and had a chance to score a go-ahead run in the fourth inning when Phillip Hawke rounded third on Kevin Preau’s short single.

Blue Raider catcher Troy Harp, though, hauled in a one-hop throw and blocked the plate in one motion, and Hawke was called out on a close play to end a Cajun threat.

One-half inning later, it was 6-2 Blue Raiders. Two innings later, it was an eight-run deficit for the host team, and Middle Tennessee was on its way to today’s 6:30 p.m. championship game.

“Being an old catcher,” said Middle head coach Steve Peterson, “I thought that was a huge momentum thing. There was a good collision and he (Harp) held onto the ball.”

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com