Louisiana was dealt a tough defeat by Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field as the Owls rallied with two runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-3 win and even the weekend series.
Louisiana (12-11, 3-5 Sun Belt) led 3-2 and was five outs from clinching its first Sun Belt series win of the season when in a 16-pitch at bat Dan Scheffler drew a walk to give the Owls (14-8, 5-3 Sun Belt) the winning run on the basepath.
A ground rule double down the left field line by Colby Gratton off Taylor Hubbell plated the tying run and moved Scheffler to third base. After a pitching change, Nick Delguidice lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Scheffler with the winning run.
The Cajuns' attempt to answer in the bottom of the eighth inning was halted when Chad Keefer was called for interference on a slide into second base on a double play ball.
Andy Mee relieved starter Mike Gipson in the ninth and retired UL in order to collect his third save of the season.
The two teams will conclude the series with the rubber match on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m.
It was a tough no-decision for UL starter T.J. Geith who carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and limited the Owls to two runs on just five hits over 6 2/3 innings.
The momentum change came in the seventh. FAU cut the Cajuns lead to 3-2 on a solo home run by Anthony Mesa. Then in the bottom of the inning, Gipson worked his way out runner on third with no outs jam.
Hubbell, who was responsible for Scheffler's run on the sacrifice fly, was charged with the loss for the Cajuns. He surrendered two runs in just 2/3 innings pitched in relief of Geith.
Gipson lasted eight innings for FAU and improved his season record to 5-0.
The all-time series is now tied at 5-5 (UL still leads 4-3 at "The Tigue").
The Cajuns struck first for the second straight day, scoring in the first inning. Brian Bowman laced a ground-rule double down the left field line. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Goulas, he scored when Jordan Poirrier grounded out to first base.
Geith retired first eight batters he faced and 10 of the first 11 overall. Mee homered over the left field fence in the fourth inning to tie the score at 1-1.
A two-out triple by Poirrier in the bottom of the fifth broke the tie and put the Cajuns up 3-1. The triple scored Greg Fontenot (leadoff single) and Bowman (hit-by-pitch).
(Courtesy of UL Athletics, Matt Hebert)

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