1 week Ago
UL right fielder Maddox Mandino (1) slides into second base with a stolen base during the Cajuns' 4-3 loss to Georgia Southern on Sunday. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Some losses just hurt more because victory was so close. Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Georgia Southern at Russo Park was one of those for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns .
All signs pointed to a home sweep of the visiting Eagles, only to strand 11 runners and endure a heartbreaking one-run loss on an afternoon of missed opportunities and one controversial ruling. “Very disappointing,” UL coach Matt Deggs said. “It’s been shoulda, woulda, coulda for about all year.
It’s been shoulda, woulda, couldas all year. Boy, that’s frustrating to watch ..
. frustrating, frustrating.” The Cajuns jumped out to a 3-0 lead with single tallies in the first, second and third innings.
Maddox Mandino was hit by a pitch, stole a bag and scored on Drew Markle’s sacrifice fly after a throwing error. In the second, Owen Galt was hit by a pitch and stole two bases ahead of Carson Hepworth’s run-scoring squeeze bunt. In the third, singles by Markle and Conor Higgs eventually led to a bases-loaded walk to Jose Torres for the third run.
Unfortunately for the home team, the Cajuns couldn’t get another run out of six hits, three walks and six hit batsmen. “This is a day where we should have seven, eight, nine, 10 runs on the board and there you go, ‘Louisiana 11 left on base,’” Deggs said. “It’s killer instinct, it’s killer instinct.
I expect a whole lot more.” But the Eagles’ offense somehow found some life from an unexpected source against UL starter JR Tollett. Senior shortstop Cade Parker, who began the day hitting .
216 with 63 strikeouts on the season, led off the fourth with a line drive solo homer to left. In the fifth, though, Parker’s two-run double highlighted a three-run inning that was extended when the sparkling ground out by Galt was somehow nullified by the umpire and the replay. “We’ve been struggling with that play all year,” Deggs said.
“It is what it is.” JC Peacher’s RBI ground out would theoretically have been the third out just prior to Parker’s double. In the bottom of the seventh, however, the Cajuns foiled themselves.
Mandino singled and Markle walked ahead of a walk to Luke Yuhasz. The problem was Mandino was thrown out trying to steal third prior to the free pass to Yuhasz. As a team, UL stolen 10 bases on the weekend, but that caught stealing proved critical.
The Cajuns ended up leaving the bases loaded down a run. “He’s on his own,” Deggs said. “He hasn’t been caught yet.
They haven’t thrown us out and he hadn’t been caught, but you’ve got to get a jump.” . In the ninth, it appeared a miracle might bail out the Cajuns.
Higgs hit a two-out pop to left with Markle on first base, but it was misplayed to keep the inning alive. Stelly hit the first pitch 339 feet over the wall in right on the first pitch, but foul. The second pitch was hit hard to right, but caught to end it.
“It’s frustrating,” Deggs added. “You’ve got a team on their heels after the first two days and the first three innings and you’ve got to finish. You’ve got to finish.
“We’ve got to learn to play with heat on us. You’ve got to play and perform when it matters. We’ll keep learning and keep growing.
” While the call not going his way ended Tollett’s streak of five consecutive quality starts, the sophomore right-hander still posted a good effort. In 6.1 innings, he allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three with 105 pitches.
Blake McGehee kept UL in it with 2.2 shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts. “He pitched his butt off,” Deggs said of Tollett.
“Gehee looked great. He made a little adjustment and looks great.”.
