Privateers Stun #1 Cajuns, 8-7

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns dropped a mid-week game for the first time all season as New Orleans scored three times in the seventh inning and held on to beat the top-ranked Cajuns 8-7 Tuesday night at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

Reese Kanter had four hits, including the tie breaking RBI in the seventh to pace UNO (10-20) to the upset win.  Jonathan Coco's two run triple later in the inning drove in what would prove to be the winning runs.

Seth Laigast (2-2) picked up the win in relief for the Privateers, while Darron McKigney pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his first save.

The Cajuns (30-4) lost for the first time all season when outhitting their opponent.

Louisiana got on the board first on a solo homer by Caleb Adams, his seventh of the season and one of his four hits on the night.

But New Orleans broke through against reliever Ben Carter in the fourth inning when Zach Liberto walked, Kanter doubled, Hezekiah Randolph singled home Liberto and Jonathan Coco walked to load the bases.  Reliever Matt Plitt gave up a three run double to Jonathan Santana and an RBI groundout before the Cajuns could get out of the inning.

But Louisiana, trailing 5-1, bounced right back.  Adams singled and after a forceout, Dylan Butler tripled home a run to make the score 5-2. Chase Compton was hit by a pitch and after Michael Strentz/ screaming liner was caught by third baseman Zach Reboulet, Blake Trahan launched a three run homer to left to tie the game at 5-5.

But in the seventh, Sam Capielano singled with one out off Nick Zaunbrecher (0-1).  Liberto singled and Kanter broke the tie with a base hit.  Then with two out, Coco hit one in the right-center gap just out of the reach of Butler to bring in two more runs.

The Cajuns had their chances down the stretch.  Jace Conrad's two out RBI single in the seventh got the Cajuns within 8-6.  The hit extended Conrad's hitting streak ot eighteen games.

Louisiana had a big opportunity in the eighth inning when Compton walked to lead off the inning and with one out and Trahan drew a  base on balls.  Ryan Leonards then topped an infield single to load the bases.  But Laigast struck out Harrison and retired Kyle Clement on a grounder to second base to end the threat.

In the ninth Adams led off with his fourth hit and Conrad doubled down the right field line to put the tying runs on base with no one out.  But McKigney entered and struck out Butler for the first out.  Compton's ground ball to second scored Adams to make the score 8-7 and moved Conrad to third before Strentz grounded to shortstop to end the game.

In addition to Conrad's streak, Adams extended his hitting streak to ten games and has now reached safely in 28 straight games. Harrison's first inning single extended his hit streak to nine and his streak of reaching base to 20 games.

Louisiana travels down I-10 Wednesday night to take on McNeese State at the Cowboy Diamond.  First pitch is scheduled for 6pm.  Lefty Connor Toups is scheduled to get the start for the Cajuns.