‘Bama Rallies Past Cajuns 6-4

Louisiana rallied from a four run deficit to draw even with #25 Alabama before the Crimson Tide scored twice in the eighth inning to take a 6-4 win over the Ragin' Cajuns at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL.

Georgie Salem led off the eighth with a double off Cajuns' reliever Will Bacon (0-1).  Bacon threw out Salem on a sacrifice attempt by Mikey White and struck out Casey Hughston for the second out.  But Kyle Overstreet singled and reliever Colton Lee then gave up a single to J. C. Willhite on an 0-2 pitch to score White with what proved to be the game winner.  Overstreet scored on an error by UL first baseman Greg Davis to tally the final run.

The two hits given up by Bacon in the eighth were the only two given up by the right hander in 2.2 innings of relief.

Alabama (7-2) got to Louisiana starter Evan Guillory in the third inning when Will Haynie walked and advanced to second on a soft single by Chance Vincent in front of center fielder Joe Robbins.  Chandler Avant then sacrificed the runners to second and third and Haynie scored on a passed ball.  Georgie Salem drove in the second run with a bunt single before White tripled over Robbins' head in center for the third run.  White scored on Hughston's ground out for the final run of the inning.

After being shackled by Alabama starter Taylor Guilbeau for six innings, Louisiana finally broke through against the lefty in the seventh.  Davis singled with one out and went to second on Tyler Girouard's single.  Robbins followed with an RBI single scoring Davis for the Cajuns' first run.  Brenn Conrad then singled home Girouard with the runners moving to second and third on the throw to the plate.  Pinch hitter Brian Mills drove in the third run of the inning and a wild pitch scored Conrad to tie the game.

Ray Castillo (1-0), who came on in relief in the eighth inning, was the winning pitcher, retiring all six men he faced.  Guilbeau allowed four runs on six hits through seven innings.  He did not walk a man and struck out eight.

Guillory pitched five innings for the Cajuns, allowing four runs on four hits.  He walked three and struck out four.

Girouard was the only Cajun to collect two hits in the game for Louisiana.  All of the hits were singles.  Salem had two of the Crimson Tide's seven hits.

The two team will play game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 2pm.  Greg Milhorn will get the start for the Cajuns.  The game can be heard on 96.5 KPEL with Dan McDonald calling the action.  Pregame begins at 1:30.