Ninth Inning Magic Gives UALR Sweep of Louisiana

Tanner Rockwell’s one out double in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Ryan Scott from second base to cap a two run rally in the ninth inning as UALR defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 7-6 to sweep their doubleheader Sunday at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, AR.

It was the second walk-off win of the day for UALR, as Scott delivered a bases loaded single in the ninth for a 5-4 win.

Petr Sila led off the ninth with a single off freshman reliever Dylan Moore (2-1).  After a sacrifice, Scott, who had the walkoff hit in game one, singled home Sila to tie the game and took second on the throw to the plate setting the stage for Rockwell.

UALR (6-8, 3-2 Sun Belt) got on the board first off Louisiana starter Gunner Leger on an RBI double by Rockwell, a two out error and a run scoring double by Joseph Paulino.

The Cajuns (10-7, 3-2) took the lead in the second inning on a two run double by Trahan and an RBI single by Brenn Conrad off starter Sam Theole.

The Cajuns built their lead by scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.  The Cajuns got their fifth inning run when Tyler Girouard and Joe Robbins executed a double steal with two out.  Conrad’s squeeze scored Kyle Clement, who had tripled, in the sixth inning and scored their final run when Girouard doubled and scored on Robbins’ single.

After the shaky first inning, Leger held the Trojans at bay until the fifth when UALR scored on Scott’s RBI single.  Leger left after five innings with the Cajuns leading 4-3.  It was 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, when reliever Will Bacon hit Scott with a pitch and Rockwell followed with a two run homer.  Freshman Dylan Moore came on to strike out the side in the eight before UALR rallied in the ninth.

In game one, Girouard’s three run homer gave Louisiana (11-6, 4-1) a 3-0 lead in the third inning after singles by Girouard and Greg Davis.  But Rockwell hit a two run double off Cajuns’ starter Evan Guillory to cut the lead to 3-2.  Joe Robbins fourth inning homer increased the lead to 4-2.

But after getting the first two outs in the sixth, Guillory hit Paulino with a pitch and Ryan McSwain followed with a two run blast to tie the game 4-4 and end the freshman’s day.

The Cajuns were unable to get a run off relievers Jarrid Garcia, Dyllon Brownmiller and Cameron Allen (2-1) after starter Corey Bradford was taken out after five innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, Cajuns’ reliever Colton Lee (0-1) hit Drew Merten with a pitch.  Sam Vogel ran for Merten and was sacrificed to second  by Hayden Martin.  Petr Sila was intentionally walked but Lee then hit Jason Prevatt with a pitch before Scott delivered the game winner.

The Cajuns travel to Georgia State next weekend.