Cajuns Shut Down Little Rock Again, 4-0

Two games.  Two shutouts.  Two Cajun victories.

Hogan Harris and Michael Leaumont combined on a four hit shutout Saturday night as the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns defeated the Little Rock Trojans, 4-0 to move into a tie for first place in the Sun Belt Western Division.

"We pitched well again tonight," head coach Tony Robichaux said.  "We have to pitch.  The pitchers have been good and our defense was great again." The pitching duo was helped by the Cajuns' defense, which turned four double plays in the game, giving them six for the series.

The Cajuns (22-19, 10-7 Sun Belt) got it started in the second inning against Little Rock starter Pablo Ortiz (2-2) when Hunter Kasuls and Kennon Fontenot led off with back to back singles, putting runners at the corners.  After Zach Lafleur popped up, Little Rock missed an execution on a double steal for the first run.  Fontenot went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Kole McKinnon's sacrifice fly.

Louisiana increased its lead in the third when Daniel Lahare took Ortiz over the right field wall for his third homer of the season.  Then with two out, Kasuls was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Fontenot's single to make it 4-0.

Harris (3-1) went the first six innings, allowing four singles, using mostly his fastball. He walked three and struck out six.  Harris issued back to back walks to open the sixth, but struck out the side, leaving runners at second and third.  Leaumont worked the final three innings, allowing two walks.  He struck out two in earning his second save of the season.

The win moved the Cajuns to 10-7 in league play, tied with UTA for the best record in the West.  Little Rock (20-17, 9-7) is one half game back.  The Cajuns and Trojans play their final game of the series tomorrow at 1:00 pm.  Jack Burk (3-4) gets the start for the Cajuns while Aaron Funk (1-0) gets the start for the Trojans.