ASU Ace Handles Ragin' Cajuns

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JONESBORO, Ark. – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns could not overcome a dominant outing from Arkansas State ace Chase Ware in the Sun Belt Conference opener, getting shut out 2-0 and dropping to 4-6-1, 0-1 in conference play.

Louisiana’s hitters had a tough time dealing with Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Ware, who earned the complete game shutout. Ware kept the Cajuns in check with just four hits and retired 10 straight batters spanning the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He finished with nine strikeouts and four walks.

Scott Hawkins led the Cajuns with two hits in four at bats. Les Smith (1-3) and Kyle Olasin (1-3) picked up the Cajuns’ only other base hits. All three stole bases in each appearance on the paths, leaving Hawkins with a career high-tying two on the night.

Cajuns’ starting pitcher Zach Osborne was the hard-luck recipient of the loss, giving 7 1/3 innings, the longest outing of any Cajuns’ starting pitcher this season. He allowed nine hits, two runs, both earned, on one walk and three strikeouts.

Blake Haagen relieved Osborne with one down in the eighth and retired two straight, one on a strikeout, to end the inning.

Arkansas State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a two-out single, the back end of back-to-back hits, to bring a runner in from second.

Osborne then kept the Red Wolves on a leash until the bottom of the fifth, when another set of back-to-back hits scored a runner from second to give A-State a two-run advantage.

The Cajuns remain in Jonesboro for the middle game Saturday, with a first pitch coming at 2 p.m. The series concludes with Sunday’s 1 p.m. contest. Tune in to NewsRadio 105.1 KPEL-FM over the air or on the web at KPEL1051.com for the call live from Tomlinson Stadium with Jay Walker, and track live statistics at RaginCajuns.com.

RaginCajuns.com

[CajunRed]

But at the same time... our hitters surely didn't back up a great performance by our pitching. Last time I checked, if you don't score you will lose 100% of the time!

[ZuluCajun]

I sure wish we could Bunt & Run more... We cannot keep leaving runners on
3 rd with less than 2 outs...In our successful days, we kept pressure on teams using the bunt more effectively. If you can't hit, BUNT with runners on.

[TuffGuy84]

_ But at the same time... our hitters surely didn't back up a great performance by our pitching. Last time I checked, if you don't score you will lose 100% of the time! _

Not factually true...if you don't score you don't win 100% of the time, most of the time you lost, and rarely, but still possible you could tie.

Just being nit picky.

[Cajunsmike]

I sure wish we could Bunt & Run more... We cannot keep leaving runners on
3 rd with less than 2 outs...In our successful days, we kept pressure on teams using the bunt more effectively. If you can't hit, BUNT with runners on.

In the op of the 2nd, we had a runner on third and one out. Next guy walks and a double play follows. That was the key to the game. Anytime you don't score in an inning with a runner on third base and less than two outs, a bad outcome usually results.