Box Score: ULL 9, ULM 6

LAFAYETTE, La. – Left-hander Hogan Harris allowed three runs – only one earned – and six hits over 7.0 innings while Hayden Cantrelle and Zach LaFleur each drove in two runs to lead ULL to a 9-6 victory over ULM Friday night (May 18) as the Ragin' Cajuns claimed the Sun Belt West Division title and the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference postseason tournament. ULL (32-23, 17-12 SBC) has won the first two games of this final regular-season Sun Belt series at Russo Park.
 
For the second-straight game, ULM (23-30, 10-19) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Ragin' Cajuns. Chad Bell led off the top of the second with a double to left-center field, and Will Daniels reached on a throwing error by the first baseman while attempting a sacrifice bunt. After Peyton Lacoste advanced both base runners with a SAC bunt, Gino Marucci drove in the first run of the game on an RBI groundout to second base, and Joey Jordan followed with an RBI infield single to third.
 
ULM right-hander Chase Beal retired the first six batters he faced but run into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. Todd Lott doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third base before Kole McKinnon walked. Jonathan Windham reached on a fielder's choice as Lacoste threw out Lott attempting to score from third on a ground ball. With runners on first and second, Cantrelle produced an RBI single to right-center that scored McKinnon. Gavin Bourgeois followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to tie the score at 2-2.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and scored four runs on three hits and two errors. Hunter Kasuls opened with a lead-off single to left field and stole second. Kennon Fontenot reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and Kasuls advanced to third. LaFleur reached on a fielder's choice as the ULM shortstop mishandled a potential double-play ball and then committed a throwing error at first, allowing two runners to score as ULL took a 4-2 lead. Lott followed with an RBI single through the right side for a 5-2 advantage. Miles Dunn replaced Beal on the mound, and after recording the first out of the inning on a SAC bunt, surrendered an RBI single to right center by Windham as ULL pushed its lead to 6-2.
 
"The play at first (throwing error credited to the third baseman) really change the whole complexity of the game," ULM head coach Mike Federico said. "It was missed. We have to overcome those things, but it's hard in an environment like this. We had an opportunity to turn a double play, but unfortunately, the shortstop doesn't make the play."
 
Beal (3-8), who took the loss, went 3.0 innings, allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits with one walk and no strikeouts. Dunn pitched a season-long 4.1 innings in relief and permitted three earned runs on seven hits with no walks and one strikeout.
 
"Chase Beal pitched really well," Federico said. "He gave us a good chance, and he should have been out there a little bit longer.
 
"Miles Dunn came in and had some simple stops, but most importantly, he didn't let things get out of hand there."
 
The Warhawks answered with a one on two hits in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Johnny DeLaCruz singled to center field. After Turner Francis walked, DeLaCruz stole third and Bell followed with an RBI single up the middle as ULM cut its deficit to 6-3. The inning ended as Francis was thrown out attempting to steal home.
 
Kasuls led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a ground-rule double to right-center field and scored two batters later on a safety-squeeze bunt from LaFleur as ULL regained its four-run advantage at 7-3.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns scored in their fourth consecutive inning in the bottom of the sixth. Windham hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line to open the inning and scored three batters later on Daniel Lahare's RBI single up the middle as ULL increased its lead to 8-3.
 
Harris, who picked up the win and improved his record to 5-1 on the season, walked two and struck out five.
 
Cantrelle opened the bottom of the eighth inning with an inside-the-park home run to right-center field as the Ragin' Cajuns amassed a 9-3 lead.
 
ULM sent eight batters to the plate, scored three runs on four hits and had the potential game-tying run at the plate when Logan Stoelke retired Lacoste on a groundout to shortstop to end the game. With one away, Jacob Charron singled to left and Braedon Barrett drew a walk from Brock Batty. After DeLaCruz lined out to left for the second out, Francis reached on an infield single to third to load the bases. Bell followed with a two-run single to center as the Warhawks pulled to within 9-5. Pierce Khan came through with an RBI single to center as ULM closed the gap to 9-6. Stoelke came out of the ULL bullpen to record the final out and earn his 10th save of the season.
 
"At the end, I credit my guys," Federico said. "We didn't stop (playing), and I'm proud of them. I hate that we lost. I hate the way that we lost because we deserved to be in that game a little bit more. Who knows what happens if the score is a little bit different right there (heading into the ninth) and put a little panic in them. But hopefully, the momentum is in our court since we scored some runs in the end there.
 
"Again, they were playing for a lot tonight. They won the West side and locked up the No. 2 seed (in the conference tournament), so congratulations to them. That's why they're a very good program. They took advantage of our mistakes. We still have a lot to play for, but I'm disappointed we didn't go earn it tonight.
 
"We responded by putting a 3-spot up there in the ninth," Federico continued. "It was nice to have Payton (Lacoste) up there, because he's blown some balls out of the yard this year."
 
Bell finished 4-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.
 
"Chad Bell hasn't been hitting lefties very well, but we keep running him out there," Federico said. "I think he came into this series hitting under .200 against lefties, but we still believe in him. What he's doing is going to the backside of the field. The big hits for him all year have come to the backside of the field, and when he does that, he's a very good college baseball hitter. Chad could play for a long time if he just continues doing that even against righties; just take what people give him. I'm proud of him tonight."
 
The series finale is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at 3 p.m. at Russo Park. Right-hander Justin Olaughlin (2-2, 4.69 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Warhawks while ULL counters with right-hander Nick Lee (2-6, 4.68 ERA).
 
"Tomorrow's a big game," Federico said. "They're throwing a big-time arm in Nick Lee, another possible high-draft pick. We need Justin Olaughlin to show up and give us a quality start."