Grading the Cajuns vs. South Alabama

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns won the series over the weekend vs. South Alabama for the second straight season.  The Cajuns dropped Saturday's game 6-0, but scored double digit runs in the other two games, winning 11-1 and 10-2.

Here are my grades for the Cajuns this weekend.

OFFENSE--B  Overall it was a good weekend, as Louisiana hit .307 against South Alabama pitching.  For a team that's struggled at the plate for a good part of the year, that's a good sign.  Ishmael Edwards had six hits and six RBI, Joe Robbins hit a pair of two run homers, while Steven Sensley and Alex Pinero each drove in three runs.  It was really good to see Pinero bounce back after a stretch where he went 2-26.  The Cajuns aren't there yet, but the weekend was, overall, encouraging.  The downside, obviously, was Saturday's meager three hit output against lefty Thomas Huston.  But the Cajuns hit USA's bullpen lefties on Sunday and that was good to see.  The other downer:  of the 32 hits, only five were for extra bases.  The slugging percentage still has to get better.

PITCHING--A minus--Yes, it's disconcerting that Nick Lee again struggled in his Saturday start.  His issue was his performance against right handed hitters.  That tells me his changeup was, overall, fine, because he handled the left handed hitters.  But his consistency in command is still an issue.  Other than that, it's hard to be critical of anything the Cajuns did on the mound.  Gunner Leger allowed just one run in six innings, Hogan Harris just a pair of solo homers in five, and the bullpen was nails, allowing just one earned run in 12 innings of work.  And, the staff struck out 27.  That's a really high number against a team like South Alabama.

DEFENSE--A--An error on a double play ball did no damage and the other error by Evan Guillory gave up an unearned run in a game that was already well decided.  The Cajuns turned three double plays and Handsome Monica shut down the South Alabama running game, nailing three would be stealers and picking off a runner.  They weren't perfect...but they were close.

The series win moved the Cajuns into a first place tie in the West division with a 6-3 record and sets up what could be a dandy of a weekend against defending national champion Coastal Carolina next weekend in Conway, SC.  Game times are 5:00 Friday, 1:00 Saturday and 10am Sunday (all times central.)