Early Lead a Trojan Horse
TROY, Ala. – A three-spot in the first inning was not enough to secure a Friday night victory for Louisiana, which fell in heartbreaking fashion in Game One of its three-game series with Troy, 5-4, at Riddle-Pace Field.
Close games have continued to be a challenge this season, with the Ragin' Cajuns (12-15, 3-4) falling to 4-6 in games decided by a run.
Senior Hunter Kasuls made an immediate impact after missing two games, going 2-for-4 with two RBI as the team's designated hitter. Todd Lott joined Kasuls with two hits, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, and added an RBI.
Brandon Young (0-3) went 5.2 innings on Friday, allowing one run on two hits and striking out eight Trojans. Sophomore Jacob Schultz started the game and allowed four runs on six hits in 3.0 innings.
Back-to-back doubles off the bats of Lott and Kasuls with no outs gave the Ragin' Cajuns a promising 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, the Trojans slowly chipped into the lead with runs in the second and third frame.
Troy (12-13, 2-5) took its first lead of the contest in the fourth, plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and a single to pull ahead 4-3.
The Ragin' Cajuns tied the game in the fifth after Orynn Veillon roped a single to left field to score Lott from second. However, the team missed a golden opportunity to inflict more damage with the bases loaded and no outs in the same frame after being thrown out at home twice before the inning ending on a ground out to third.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the ninth frame when Chase Smartt flied out to right field, scoring Dalton Sinquefield to secure the 5-4 walk off.
Game Two of the series will be played on Saturday with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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