After going 2-6 in their last 8 games, the formerly Top 25 ranked Ragin’ Cajuns (4-9) looked to get back to their winning ways with a three game series against Sun Belt opponent Arkansas State (8-4).
But the Indians would have none of that as they pulled off an impressive three game sweep over Cajuns at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field in Lafayette, Louisiana this weekend.
Due to inclement weather, the teams played a doubleheader on Saturday with ASU winning 3-0 and 9-5 respectively.
Indians Junior pitcher Chase Ware made his debut in the first game pitching a complete game shutout with six strikeouts and surrendered just 3 hits to Lafayette. Senior thirdbaseman Ryan Hudgins made it a 3-0 game with a 2-run homer in the fifth inning. Meanwhile the Cajuns committed 4 errors in the field.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Arkansas State rallied from a 4-0 deficit to go on for a 9-5 victory. Todd Baugmarter led the A-State offensive attack going 3-for-5 with a homer run and 2 RBI’s while three others chipped in with two hits.
Blaine LaFleur finished 2-for-3 with a double and a triple in the losing cause for Lafayette.
On Sunday, Arkansas State continued to hit the ball well scoring three runs in the first inning. The Cajuns would committ six errors on the afternoon and ASU went on to win the third and final game of the series 9-2.
ASU’s Todd Baugmarter continued to eat up Cajun pitcher finishing with three hits and an RBI on Sunday. Jacob Maggard (2-0) pitched 6 2/3 strong innings allowing just two runs on five hits.
Lafayette broke up Maggards bid for a shutout when Greg Fotenot plated two runs with single.
Louisiana-Lafayette record 12 errors in three games. To add insult to injury, the preseason conference favorite Cajuns next 10 games are on the road starting with a series this weekend in Boca Raton, Florida against Florida Atlantic (7-4).
In other Sun Belt games:
Arizona 18, South Alabama 0: South Alabama were hammered by No. 5 Arizona (10-1) in the Whataburger Classic held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Arizona’s Preston Guilmet finished 8 innings of work allowing no runs on four hits and struck out 12 Jaguars. David Doss recorded 2 of the 5 total team hits for USA.
Notre Dame 10, South Alabama 4: Jags David Doss finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer but Notre Dame’s(5-6) bullpen shut the door with 3.2 scoreless innings in the Whataburger Classic.
South Alabama 4, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2: USA’s Eric Gonzalez pitched a complete game allowing 2 runs while scattering 10 hits and striking out 8 Islanders (3-9). Ray Kuml finished 3-for-4 and scored three times for the Jaguars.
Other scores around the ‘Belt:
Friday, March 7
Troy 13, FIU 12
Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock, ccd. – field conditions
New Orleans at Middle Tennessee State, ppd.
Western Kentucky at Louisiana-Monroe, ppd.
Saturday, March 8
Florida International 8, Troy 2
Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock, ppd.
Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock, ccd. – field conditions
New Orleans at Middle Tennessee State, ppd.
New Orleans at Middle Tennessee State, ccd. – wintry conditions
Western Kentucky at Louisiana-Monroe, ppd.
Sunday, March 9
Florida Atlantic 4, Arkansas-Little Rock 3
Troy 12, Florida International 3
New Orleans 11, Middle Tennessee 5
Louisiana-Monroe 9, Western Kentucky 5
