An Unlikely Hero Emerges in Cajun Baseball’s First Victory

The Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team was able to salvage the third and final game in a series against #20 Texas on Sunday.

Starting pitcher Hogan Harris struggled with command early but was able to hold Texas in check. With his pitch count pushing 60 in the third inning and two-outs a pitch up and away to Texas' Austin Todd evoked a troubling reaction from Harris as he grabbed for his side and called out coach Robichaux and trainers. The end result would be an oblique injury that would force Harris to exit the game. Enter, freshman left-hander, Brock Batty.

Batty doesn't have overpowering stuff but what he does do very well is keep opposing hitters off-balance. As you heard in the video above, his out-pitch used to be, exclusively, his curveball but since joining UL he's really devolved his change-up.

Batty struck out only one batter on Sunday but pitched to contact, kept hitters guessing, and turned in a brilliant six inning performance in relief to garner his first collegiate victory. He allowed only two hits, three walks, only one run to score, and the Cajuns escaped Austin with a 2-1 victory.

The youngster from Denham Springs, LA was a starter all throughout high school, so throwing 80 pitches over six strong innings isn't something that's new for him.

Coach Robe told us today at his weekly press conference that Batty knew he would be first out of the bullpen on Sunday.

When I asked him about his performance coming into the game earlier than expected he said, "Adrenaline was pumping like crazy but I was just focused on getting us back in the dugout and thanks to Daniel Lahare that happened!"

Now, why he's thanking outfielder Daniel Lahare is because he made two spectacular catches. Both where he had to flag down fly balls that were cranked into deep center-field, covering a ton of ground in the process on both.

Baseball is one of, if not the most, mentally tough game to play and the fact that a freshman making his collegiate debut was thrust into a situation might not have been the worst thing.

Yes, he did know he was going to be first out of the bullpen but the way he entered the game was one no one could have foreseen and didn't give him time to overthink it. He simply entered the game and did what he does, pitch effectively and get opposing hitters out.

It was a solid start for the youngster, he'll be looking to build on this early success as the season progresses. I know it was just one appearance but it's always nice to get off on the right foot.

Here's what Batty had to say right after the victory on Sunday:

The Cajuns will be traveling to Southeastern Louisiana to take on the Lions on Wednesday evening at 6pm.

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