UL – Everything finally came together at the same time for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who pulled off a 5-2 upset of Sun Belt leader Middle Tennessee in a thrilling comeback game Friday night at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field to move back above .500 at 13-12-1 overall and 6-6 in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Cajuns used timely hitting, error-free defense, and dominant pitching to get it done, thrilling the 2,346-strong crowd with their fifth comeback win of the season.
Kyle Bostick keyed a four-run seventh inning with a bases-loaded, three-RBI double off the right field wall, putting the Cajuns back on top after going down 2-0 in the fourth on a two-run Blue Raider home run from right fielder Stuart Meinhart.
Other than the home run, the Cajuns pitching staff was excellent. Alex Fuselier started the game, and though he earned no decision, went 5 2/3 strong innings, allowing eight hits, two runs, both earned, with two walks and three strikeouts. Zach Osborne entered in the sixth with runners on the corners and completely shut down the Middle Tennessee bats, which has been no easy feat this season.
Osborne threw 3 1/3 innings of perfect relief, allowing no hits, no runs, with no walks and five strikeouts, all swinging, including three to retire the top of the ninth in order. He faced 10 batters and set them all down.
Entering the weekend, the Blue Raiders were ranked in the top 20 in multiple offensive categories in NCAA Division I. They include batting average (20th, .337), scoring (11th, 9.7 runs/game), runs (14th, 233), hits (t-20th, 297), home runs per game (12th, 1.75), home runs (t-12th, 42), and slugging percentage (10th, .571).
The Cajuns shut down catcher Drew Robertson, who was ranked 19th nationally with a .460 batting average entering the game, and went 0-for-4 with no walks versus the combination of Fuselier and Osborne.
The Cajuns bats were also impressive, led by Bostick with his two-out, three-RBI double as part of a 1-for-4 night. He had been hitless in four tries with the bases loaded before his game-winning hit tonight. Kyle Olasin added an RBI single in the next at bat as part of his 2-for-4 outing, extending his hitting streak into double-digits at 10 straight. Olasin is now .359 on the season.
Greg Fontenot put down a perfect squeeze bunt in the eighth to give the Cajuns their fifth run, but finished the night 0-for-1 otherwise with a walk and a strikeout, ending his hitting streak at four games. Scott Hawkins, still one short of tying the career home run record, went 1-for-3 on the night with a run scored. Will Long, Les Smith and Chad Keefer all chipped in a hit each, along with Travis Whipple, who is now on a six-game streak.
Perfect defense added a third angle to the win, as the Cajuns posted their 11th error-free game of the season, helping maintain their position as the Sun Belt’s second-ranked defensive team by fielding percentage, now up to .970, 20 points higher than at the same time last year.
Both starting pitchers cruised until the fourth inning, when Fuselier gave up a two-run home run to Stuart Meinhart. Prior to that, Fuselier had allowed no runs on four hits through the first three innings.
Bryce Brentz kept the Cajuns off the basepaths until he gave out a two-out walk to Scott Hawkins in the bottom of the fourth. Les Smith ended Brentz’s bid for the no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth with a single to centerfield as just the second baserunner for the Cajuns.
Fuselier allowed two on base before leaving in favor of Osborne with two outs in the top of the sixth. Osborne bailed him out of the jam with a strikeout of shortstop Tyler Burnett to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Cajuns loaded the bases off of Brentz with two outs. Nick Montgomery entered in relief but gave up a double to Kyle Bostick, in and out of right fielder Stuart Meinhart’s glove at the wall to clear the bases for three runs. Kyle Olasin brought Bostick home in the next at bat, giving the Cajuns a four-run inning to get back on top of the Blue Raiders 4-2.
The Cajuns again loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth for Greg Fontenot, this time with no outs. He executed a perfect squeeze play to score Hawkins from third and earn the sacrifice bunt RBI, putting the Cajuns up 5-2.
The Blue Raiders and Ragin’ Cajuns continue their weekend series Saturday, March 14, in a 2 p.m. game. Listen in on SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM locally in Lafayette and around the world on ESPN1420.com. In the Acadiana area, catch the game on MyKLAF-TV Cox 13 or check out the live video stream and live statistics at RaginCajuns.com.
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Bringing It All Together: UL-5 MT-2
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