MIAMI – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns leveraged an eight-run seventh inning to salvage Game 3 of a weekend series with FIU, getting ahead and holding on through two rain delays to win by a score of 11-4. The Cajuns now stand at 11-12-1 overall, with a 5-6 mark in Sun Belt competition.

Scott Hawkins blasted two home runs in his continuing quest for No. 1 in the career record books. With the first, his 37th, he moved out of a second-place tie with Damian Grossie (1988-91), and with the second, his 38th, edged to within one of all-time leader Ron Robichaux (1983-86), who finished his career with 39 home runs. Hawkins would have had a third in the eighth inning had FIU left fielder Mike Martinez not scaled the wall in the top of the eighth to rob Hawkins of a goner.

Altogether, Hawkins led the Cajuns on 2-for-4 hitting with four RBIs and two runs scored. Greg Fontenot added to his spectacular weekend with a 3-for-4 outing. He finished the weekend 8-for-12 with two RBIs. Travis Whipple went 2-for-4 in the game though he did not drive anyone in. Alex Fuselier was 1-for-5 but drove in two runs, Les Smith went 1-for-2 with an RBI as a defensive replacement, and Tyler Benzel picked up an RBI despite an 0-for-3 outing as another defensive replacement.

Chad Keefer was 0-for-4 but drove in a run with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, while Kyle Bostick went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Greg Wilborn started the game and went a full eight innings to pick up the win, the longest outing for any Cajuns’ pitcher this year. He threw 130 pitches while allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits, five walks and five strikeouts. Cook improved to 3-0 on the year with the decision.

Gregory Harmon closed the game, and while not a save opportunity, the appearance was a strong one. He faced four batters and allowed just one hit in the ninth, striking out one.

The Golden Panthers opened the scoring in the third inning with a liner to center field to score Junior Arrojo from second base.

Scott Hawkins nailed a first-pitch fastball for a two-run home run in the top of the fourth with Travis Whipple on, putting the ball over the right field wall near the 375 marker for a 2-1 lead.

FIU stole the advantage back in the fifth, with a two-run inning thanks to an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly.

Louisiana responded when Hawkins drove his second home run to straightaway center field to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. But FIU retook the lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from catcher Sean Reilly.

In the seventh, the Cajuns went ahead on a series of three consecutive doubles to score two runs, starting with Greg Fontenot with the bases empty and one out. Kyle Bostick doubled him in for the game-tying RBI, and Les Smith dropped a bloop just out of range of the diving center fielder to score Bostick, taking second while the right fielder tracked down the ball.

The runs came just as a 5-minute downpour was beginning. After Matt Goulas singled, the umpires called for a rain delay. Within three minutes the rain had completely stopped and the game was resumed some seven minutes later. When play restarted, Travis Whipple walked to load the bases. Then FIU’s pitching came undone, hitting Scott Hawkins and Chad Keefer back-to-back to force in two runs. That sequence prompted the Panthers’ to make the fourth pitching change of the inning. Tyler Benzel then produced an RBI fielder’s choice and went to second on a wild pitch. Alex Fuselier came up for the second time in the inning and doubled into the left field corner to score both Benzel and Hawkins, and Greg Fontenot got his second hit of the inning with an RBI single to right field before Kyle Bostick popped up to bring the explosion to an end. The Cajuns finished with eight runs in the seventh inning, launching them into an 11-4 lead.

A second rain delay stopped play for approximately 15 minutes in the eighth inning.

UL returns home after a week on the road for a Tuesday night tilt with Northwestern State at “The Tigue,” with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and on ESPN1420.com, and live video and statistics will be available on RaginCajuns.com.

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