Box Score: ULL 4, ULM 3 (10 inn.)

LAFAYETTE, La. – Hayden Cantrelle hit a walk-off home run to the opposite field off ULM closer Keegan Curtis in the bottom of the 10th inning to give ULL a 4-3 win over the Warhawks Thursday (May 17) to open the final regular-season Sun Belt series at Russo Park.
 
"It's definitely a tough way to lose, and I'm sorry it had to come to that," ULM head coach Mike Federico said. "I felt the pitch before (the walk-off home run) was a pretty good pitch, and I'm disappointed we didn't get a call, but that wasn't the reason we lost the game. We let too many opportunities early in the game slip away for us.
 
"I'm disappointed because I know how hard our guys are working and know how much they want to accomplish something (qualify for the conference postseason tournament) this year. I just want it for those guys so bad, and I also want it for the future of our program. Our backs are still against the wall, and we're going to have to earn it in the hardest way possible."
 
ULM (23-29, 10-18 Sun Belt) got off a quick start against ULL ace left-hander Colten Schmidt. Turner Francis opened the game with a solid single to center and Johnny DeLaCruz reached on a bunt single. With two on and two outs, Brendan Jordan provided a two-run single to center.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns had an opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the first, as Cantrelle doubled down the right-field line and Gavin Bourgeois reached on a throwing error by ULM left-hander Trey Jeans. With runners at first and second, Jeans struck out Daniel Lahare looking and induced groundouts from Hunter Kasuls and Jansen Fontenot to get out of the opening frame unscathed.
 
ULL (31-23, 16-12) managed to tie the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Zach LaFleur doubled down the right-field line; stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Jonathan Windham walked, advanced to second on the throwing error and scored on Kole McKinnon's RBI double up the middle.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns took their first lead at 3-2 on McKinnon's solo home run to left field with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
The Warhawks answered in the top of the fifth inning as Francis singled to center with one out, and with two away, Chad Bell singled through the right side of the infield, sending Francis to third. Will Daniels followed with an RBI single to left field to tie the score at 3-3.
 
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Jeans issued back-to-back walks to Kasuls and Fontenot. With his pitch count at 94, Federico elected to replace Jeans with Miles Dunn, who fanned Todd Lott before hitting LaFleur with a pitch to load the bases. Dunn got out of the jam as Windham filed out to right field.
 
Jeans pitched 4.1 innings, allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
Dunn, Kyle Backofen and Derek Martin combined to pitch 3.2 scoreless innings in relief for ULM while surrendering three hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
 
"We put our guys in a situation to win," Federico said. "I know we had five walks but a couple of those were intentional. They limited some damage in some of those innings. Lafayette plays with a reckless abandon because they can run. Unfortunately, those three errors and a misplayed ball really cost us. It's not that all of those errors resulted in runs scored, but those miscues impacted our pitch count. Trey Jeans had to throw about 10 more pitches to get out of the first inning when we don't make the first play of the game. You hate to look back at the last pitch of the game and the walk-off home run because of some of those moments early in the ballgame."
 
Schmidt, who retired the last 10 batters he faced, set ULM down in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He worked 8.0 innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
 
"That's why Colten Schmidt is going to be the conference Pitcher of the Year," Federico said. "He's the best arm we've seen hands down in this league. Dylan Moore has been in those moments numerous times in his career. That's what elite pitcher do; they don't allow you to get big innings.
 
"Schmidt did a great job of controlling the strike zone. His stuff was good, but his command was elite. He was throwing every pitch in the strike zone and just kind of had us at bay. We had a difficult time getting anything going, and when we did, he shifted gears and said, 'Okay, that's enough.'"
 
Martin struck out the first two ULL batters in the bottom of the eighth before giving up a triple to right field by Cantrelle. After Bourgeois walked and stole second, Martin fanned Lahare looking.
 
Dylan Moore came out of the ULL bullpen and set the Warhawks down in order in the top of the ninth.
 
Curtis pitched around a fielding error by the second baseman to open the bottom of the ninth. With Kasuls at second and two outs, Curtis intentionally walked LaFleur and got Windham to pop out to second base.
 
ULM threatened to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. With one out, Francis singled down the left-field line and DeLaCruz followed with a double to right center. Moore intentionally walked Chad Bell to load the bases before recording back-to-back strikeouts against Daniels (swinging) and Brendan Jordan (looking).
 
"Credit our guys for doing what we did because we had an opportunity to win it right there in the 10th inning," Federico said. "We couldn't ask for a bigger moment to have Will Daniels at the plate. I love that kid, and I was thinking this was his moment to have, and it just didn't happen. Credit Coach (Tony) Robichaux) and his staff for loading the bases and putting our guys in that situation."
 
Curtis struck out McKinnon swinging to open the bottom of the 10th before Cantrelle hit the walk-off homer to left field.
 
Moore (4-3), who picked up the win in relief, pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and allowed two hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Curtis (3-2) went 1.1 innings, allowed the solo home run with one walk and two strikeouts.  
 
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Friday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at Russo Park. Right-hander Chase Beal (3-7, 6.00 ERA) earns the start for ULM while ULL counters with left-hander Hogan Harris (4-1, 2.33 ERA).