Robichaux’s Gem Gives Cajuns Win Over UALR 9-2

After pitching on either Sunday or Saturday all season, Austin Robichaux got the Friday night start for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns in their game against Arkansas-Little Rock.  And, Robichaux didn't disappoint, throwing a complete game two hitter with a career high fourteen strikeouts as the Cajuns defeated the Trojans 9-2 in the first game of their Sun Belt conference series at Gary Hogan Field.

Robichaux (5-2) allowed two unearned runs and retired 16 batters in a row at one point.  He walked two and hit a batter.  UALR's first run scored on a throwing error, and the other on a passed ball.

The Cajuns (23-10, 7-6 Sun Belt), scored twice in the second inning on RBI singles by Chase Compton and Jace Conrad off UALR starter Chance Cleveland (4-5).  The Trojans countered in the bottom of the inning following a one out walk to John Clark and a two out single by Sam Vogel.  Clark scored when the throw to second base by Dex Kjerstad missed its target, cutting the Cajuns' lead to 2-1.

The Cajuns, however, got to Cleveland in the fifth inning.  Back to back singles by Ryan Leonards and Seth Harrison started the inning.  After Tyler Girouard flied to center, Michael Strentz doubled to score Leonards.  Dylan Butler followed with a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1 and Blake Trahan doubled home Strentz.  Compton's second RBI single ended Cleveland's night.

The six runs, all earned, were the most allowed by Cleveland in a start this season.

The Cajuns scored three more in the sixth off relievers Chase Rousseau and Cameron Allen on a two run double by Strentz and another Butler sacrifice fly.

Meanwhile, after the second inning hit by Vogel, Robichaux retired sixteen straight batters, ten of them on strikeouts.  A leadoff walk to Sage Gasaway in the eighth ended the streak.  Gasaway wound up scoring on a passed ball for the second Trojans' run.

UALR (15-17, 4-9) will send right hander Blake Huffman (3-2, 3.12) to the mound tomorrow against Cajuns' left hander Ryan Wilson (3-1, 3.14).  Gametime is scheduled for 4:00.