Cajuns Come Up Short In Wally Pontiff Jr Classic

Despite a late comeback attempt, the Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team fell to LSU, 6-8, in the Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic at Zephyr Field.

The Tigers, who play this event every year in honor of their former player that passed away far too young, strung together four straight scoring innings to start off the game. They put the Cajuns in a 2-8 hole, thanks to multiple run innings in the first and third. Head Cajun Baseball Coach Tony Robichaux always uses the term "compete," which is what his team did instead of crumbling.

The top of the seventh inning resulted in four runs off four hits, drawing the Cajuns back within two runs. Unfortunately for the folks in vermilion and white, that was how the scoreline ended.

Brian Mills, who picked up the first RBI in the seventh inning run, could have had nearly five RBI's on the day, if it weren't for the LSU defense. Two of the balls off his bats resulted in outs with runners in scoring position and five left on base, but they were still smashed. Mills ended the game 2-5 with two RBI's and a run, but his stat line somewhat depicts the things that could have been.

Two separate innings ended with the bases loaded for UL, but it would be wrong to take away from LSU's victory. The Tigers went through seven different Cajun pitchers, knocking them around for ten hits in the game.

LSU shortstop Alex Bregman affirmed why he's talked about as one of the best players in collegiate baseball, coming up a single shy of batting for the cycle. He took one well over the wall, as did Chris Chinea and Kade Scivicque.

On the defensive side, the Tigers retired six of the last seven batters to end the game to quell the late comeback attempt. Russell Reynolds came on in the second inning and ended up picking up the win after locking things down until the seventh inning spurt ended his day.

LSU picked up the win in front of 10,853 observers to improve to 24-5. With the loss, the Cajuns fall to 15-11. The next challenge on the Cajuns schedule will be a weekend series against Georgia Southern, but at least they will be back within the friendly confines of M.L. Tigue Moore Field.