MONROE, La. -- ULM took an early 1-0 lead but the Warhawks were unable to overcome a complete game effort by No. 6 UL-Lafayette's Austin Robichaux as the Ragin' Cajuns claimed a 4-1 win in the Sun Belt Conference Opener for both teams Friday night at Warhawk Field.
ULM jumped on the scoreboard first as they plated a single run in the bottom of the first inning. Anthony Herrera was hit-by-pitch with one out and moved to second on a balk by UL-L pitcher Austin Robichaux. After a flyout, Justin Stawychny tripled off of the wall in left center to put ULM ahead, 1-0, as Herrera scored easily.
The Ragin' Cajuns evened the contest in the top of the second as Chase Compton singled to left field and drove in Caleb Adams for the first UL-L run of the game.
In the third, the visiting Ragin' Cajuns took a 3-1 lead on a two-RBI double by Tyler Girouard. Stawychny attempted to make a diving catch by the left field line, but he was unable to make the grab as Blake Trahan and Seth Harrison scored.
UL-L pushed its lead to 4-1 on a sacrifice fly to left as Adams scored from third on the tag in the eighth. The Ragin' Cajuns later tried to push its lead to 5-1 but a play at the plate on a 4-2 force out sent Jace Conrad to the dugout for the second out of the inning. A pop-up to shortstop Kodie Tidwell ended the threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, Keelin Rasch doubled with one out in the frame and he eventually reached third (via error). Unfortunately he was unable to cross home plate as the threat came to a close on a strikeout.
ULM starter Chris Hunt (1-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits with two walks and five punchouts in 5.1 innings of work.
UL-L starter Robichaux (3-1) allowed just one run on four hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Stawychny led ULM at the plate with a pair of extra-base hits and a RBI.
Compton and Girouard each recorded one hit and two RBI in the opener.
For updates throughout the season on the ULM baseball team, be sure to follow the squad on twitter @ULM_BSB.
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