Matt Goulas tallied a team-leading four RBIs in an 11-10 loss to FIU Friday night in Miami.

MIAMI – After a slow start, the Ragin’ Cajuns mounted a game-tying, six-run comeback in the top of the ninth before walking home FIU’s winning run with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, losing by a final score of 11-10. The Cajuns drop to 10-11-1 and 4-5 in Sun Belt action.

Louisiana did not reach in the first three innings, but scored two in both the fourth and fifth to get back into the game, and were then held scoreless until their ninth inning rally.

The Ragin’ Cajuns started freshman Alex Fuselier lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits, two walks and one strikeout. Blake Haagen relieved him in the sixth, and went through the seventh for 1 2/3 of work, allowing three runs on five hits, one walk and one strikeout.

Luke Wagley threw 1 1/3 innings in the loss, giving up one run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Justin Robichaux took the loss, hitting the second batter he faced, and walking the game-winning run across in the next at bat.

Matt Goulas led the Cajuns with four RBIs on a 3-for-5 night at the dish including a two-run home run, backed up by two RBIs from Kyle Olasin on his 2-for-4 game. Scott Hawkins, Chad Keefer, and Greg Fontenot all added one RBI each, Fontenot on three hits in four at bats.

A two-run home run by Panther second baseman Ryan Mollica gave FIU the early lead at 2-0 in the first. The Golden Panthers scored again in the second on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 heading the third inning.

The Cajuns cut the deficit to one in the fourth, thanks to a two-run home run to left field off the bat of Matt Goulas.

In the fifth inning, Kyle Bostick and Greg Fontenot led off with back-to-back singles, advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Olasin and a single by Matt Goulas respectively, putting the Cajuns in front 4-3.

FIU’s Mike Martinez and Garrett Wittels put consecutive RBI singles up the middle in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead 5-4.

Fuselier left in the sixth after giving up a two-run home run to Mollica. Haagen retired the first batter he faced, but walked the next batter and allowed two singles to score another. He struck out Wittels to end the inning, but the Cajuns went to the seventh trailing 8-4.

The Golden Panthers struck again in the seventh, adding two on three singles, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly off of Haagen, giving FIU a 10-4 lead.

The Ragin’ Cajuns mounted their enormous comeback in the ninth, as Chad Keefer hit an infield single to short, scoring Travis Whipple from third. Kyle Bostick followed that up with a walk to load the bases, before three straight RBI singles (Fontenot, Olasin, Goulas) and an error in left field brought four more across to position the Cajuns just one run behind. Scott Hawkins delivered the tying run with a sacrifice fly to right field. FIU ended the rally with a tie score, forcing the Cajuns to pitch for a hold in the bottom half of the inning.

Justin Robichaux entered the game for Luke Wagley in the ninth, and after allowing the bases to load, walked in FIU’s winning run on four straight pitches.

The series continues tomorrow, Saturday, March 28, with a 5 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Eastern contest. Be sure to catch all the action with Jay Walker on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM in Lafayette and online at ESPN1420.com, and track live statistics on RaginCajuns.com.

UL Press