Schmidt’s Gem Lifts Cajuns Over Nicholls, 2-1

If you're not going to hit a lot, you have to win with pitching and defense.

And, finally, a timely hit.

Senior Colten Schmidt threw seven innings of shutout ball Wednesday night to lift the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns to a 2-1 win over Nicholls State at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park before an announced crowd of 4,914.

Schmidt (1-0) was masterful, allowing just five singles.  He did not walk a batter and struck out six, while hitting two batters.  Schmidt did not allow the Colonels (1-7) to have two hits in an inning and was helped by two double plays from the infield.

"We struggled to get hits again tonight, but we're seeing more quality at bats from our guys," associate head coach Anthony Babineaux said.  "In the meantime we played great defense.  We asked Colten to give us a chance to win and he gave us more than a chance."

Babineaux ran the club in place of head coach Tony Robichaux, who served the first game of a two game NCAA mandated suspension.

The Cajuns (3-5) were held without a hit for 5.1 innings by starter Jacob Bedevian (0-2) but got on the board in the fourth inning when Daniel Lahare led off with a walk and went to third on an errant pickoff.  He scored on Kennon Fontenot's sacrifice fly.

Louisiana had some two out magic in the seventh as freshman Blake Faecher collected his first collegiate hit with two out and nobody on.  Pinch runner Zach Lafleur stole second and scored on Gavin Bourgeois' base hit to left to tally what proved to be the winning run.

Nicholls threatened off Dylan Moore in the eighth on a one out double by pinch hitter Landon Powell.  Ethan Valdez' single put runners at the corners.  Logan Stoelke came on in relief and allowed an inherited runner to score on a ground ball before getting Kyle Knauth on a fly ball to end the inning.  The senior from Fayetteville, TX allowed a one out walk in the ninth, but retired the next two hitters for his third save of the season.

Nicholls got the leadoff man on base in five of the seven innings Schmidt worked, but only allowed one runner to reach third base in the game.

The Cajuns now head to Houston for the annual Shriner's College Classic where they will face Mississippi State Friday night.  Dan McDonald and Jeff Schneider will have the call at 7:00 pm on 96.5 KPEL-FM.