MONROE, La. – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns both games of a Saturday doubleheader at Warhawk Field to conclude the series, dropping their first full Sun Belt weekend series of the year. Greg Wilborn took his first loss of the year in Game 1, and Luke Wagley was tabbed with the loss in Game 2 as the Cajuns bats surged towards the end of both games, but not hard enough to overcome significant deficits.

Game 1
Greg Wilborn again had some trouble, allowing six runs through the first three and lasting just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed the runs, all earned, on six hits, six walks and one strikeout. Greg Harmon entered in relief and finished the game, allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits, one walk and one strikeout.

Despite Harmon’s effective relief, the Cajuns’ bats were just too cold, getting back within one run in the ninth but unable to complete the rally.

On a positive note, Kyle Olasin extended his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest Cajuns streak since a 21-game tear from Xavier Hernandez in 2007. Olasin and Matt Goulas led the Cajuns with three RBI apiece, Goulas batting 4-for-4 including a two-run home run in the game. Olasin had his three RBI despite batting just 1-for-5, as he picked up two on groundouts. Greg Fontenot was 2-for-5 with one RBI.

Wilborn worked himself into a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the second with two walks and a hit, then allowed a hit and a reach-on-error to score three runs before a foul fly out ended the inning.

Kyle Olasin got his streak-extending hit in the third with a two-out RBI double to the right field corner, scoring Matt Goulas from second. Olasin scored in the next at bat on a Fontenot single through the left side bringing the Cajuns back within one at 3-2.

ULM added their fourth, fifth, and sixth runs on three walks and three straight base hits to right field in the bottom of the third. Wilborn walked one more to load the bases back up with two outs before exiting for Harmon. He induced a grounder to Keefer at third to end the rally and get the Cajuns back to the plate.

Louisiana made one up in the top of the fifth on a Goulas single straight back to and past the pitcher, scoring Fuselier from second. Goulas went to second on the throw and continued to third on a wild pitch. Olasin earned his second RBI with a groundout to second, scoring Goulas and putting the Cajuns within two at 6-4.

Ryan McMillan smashed a leadoff home run off Harmon in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Warhawks’ lead to three. They added another on a sixth-inning RBI triple from designated hitter Jordy Poche.

In the top of the seventh, Olasin grounded in another run, bringing Fuselier in from third with a bouncer to second.

Matt Goulas tacked two on the board in the ninth with a home run to left field, bringing the game back within one run, but it was not enough, as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Game 2
ULM again got out to an early lead and held it throughout the game, finishing off the Cajuns 7-3 to complete the sweep, just one weekend after Louisiana swept former Sun Belt leader Middle Tennessee.

ULM scored all seven of their runs with two outs.

Luke Wagley was tabbed as the starter just after the conclusion of game one, and pitched some of the best innings of the weekend for the Cajuns. He went 4 2/3 innings and taking the loss to move to 3-3 on the season, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits, three walks and six strikeouts.

Justin Robichaux relieved Wagley and gave up three runs, all earned, on seven hits, no walks and one strikeout to complete the game.

Offensively, Louisiana was relatively quiet until the seventh and eighth innings, scoring three in the span. Kyle olasin was 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 16 games, the best for the Cajuns since 2007 when Xavier Hernandez got base hits in 21 consecutive games. Scott Hawkins led the lineup with two RBIs, going 2-for-3 in the game. Chad Keefer picked up an RBI despite going 0-for-2, and Kyle Bostick went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Warhawks were again first on the board with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the first inning.

Chad Keefer evened the game up with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Scott Hawkins from third after he doubled his way on and moved to third on a Les Smith sacrifice bunt.

ULM tacked on their second run in the bottom of the second, again with an RBI single. Their next run came in the bottom of the third on a grounder that got through the legs of Hawkins at first and allowed a runner to score from second.

In the bottom of the fifth, ULM went up 4-1 with a run scored on two straight wild pitches from Wagley. That is when Robichaux entered, and he finished the fifth without event.

The ULM sixth started well, with a leadoff single followed by a 6-4-3 double play. With two outs, the Warhawks mounted another assault, scoring three runs on a hit-by-pitch, a single and a double to break the game open at 7-1.

The Cajuns got one back on a Les Smith RBI groundout in the top of the seventh, scoring Matt Goulas from third to make a 7-2 game.

In the top of the eighth, Louisiana added two, and were poised to strike for more with Matt Goulas representing the tying run at the plate with two on and one down. But he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and the threat. The game cruised to an end at 7-4, the Cajuns going down in order by strikeouts in their last chance at the plate.

The Ragin’ Cajuns return home for a midweek encounter with Stephen F. Austin at “The Tigue” Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., followed by a road game at Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Follow both games with live statistics on RaginCajuns.com as well as live video Tuesday night, and listen in to Jay Walker’s broadcast locally over the air on SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM or from anywhere on the internet at ESPN1420.com.



UL Press