Cajuns' Defense Falters in 4-2 Loss to Maryland

Three Louisiana errors led to four unearned runs Friday as Maryland defeated the Ragin' Cajuns 4-2 before 4,668 at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

Louisiana (1-7) led 1-0 after four innings when Daniel Lahare led off the fourth against Maryland starter Hunter Parsons (2-0) with a homer to right center. But the lead was short lived. Bubba Alleyne had a one out single in the fifth off Cajuns' starter Gunner Leger (0-1). Caleb Walls then bunted but Leger pulled shortstop Hayden Cantrelle off the bag in the attempt to get the force play. A ground rule double by Randy Bednar brought home the tying run and a grounder by Taylor Wright, which should have been the third out, brought home the second run of the inning. Jacob Schultz then relieved Leger and the third run of the inning scored when O'Neal Lochridge threw away Justin Vought's grounder. All of the runs were unearned because of the two errors.

Maryland (6-2) added an insurance run off Schultz in the sixth when A. J. Lee led off with a double. Alleyne reached on an error by Cantrelle allowing the final run to score.

The Cajuns hit plenty of balls hard off Parsons, especially in the sixth when Brennan Breaux led off with a single, but Lahare lined out to right and Handsome Monica blasted another one to right where Bednar made a lunging play on the warning track.

Louisiana finally broke through in the eighth when Gavin Bourgeois was hit by a pitch and Breaux walked. Monica singled with one out to load the bases and Cantrelle's grounder scored Bourgeois to make it 4-2. Todd Lott walked to load the bases, but Orynn Veillon lined out to right to end the threat. John Murphy pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Six of the seven Cajuns' losses have come by two runs or less.

Leger and Schultz combined for seven hits, four earned runs, two walks and 12 strikeouts in the contest. Each team had seven hits in the contest.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 2:00.