LAFAYETTE, La. - An RBI single by Louisiana-Lafayette center fielder Brian Bowman in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Ragin' Cajuns to a 2-1 victory over the Western Kentucky baseball team Sunday afternoon at M. L. "Tigue" More Field.
With two outs in the ninth, Louisiana shortstop Ryan Leonards reached on an infield single and stole second to advance into scoring position. Bowman's single drove in Leonards, who just got under the tag of WKU catcher Devin Kelly at home plate.
The Hilltoppers offense was limited to just one hit, the lowest total for WKU (13-19, 5-7 Sun Belt Conference) since June 1, 2009 when it faced Ole Miss in the championship game of the NCAA Regional. That day WKU had two hits.
Louisiana-Lafayette (15-16, 5-7) scattered 10 hits on the afternoon, its highest total of the weekend, but stranded nine runners on base.
Right-hander Ross Hammonds (0-2) was touched for one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1-1/3 innings. The redshirt senior has not issued a walk in his last 10 outings.
Ragin' Cajuns starter Jordan Harrison (3-1) allowed one run on one hit in a complete-game effort. Harrison walked three and recorded 11 strikeouts. After allowing the solo home run in the third, the left-hander allowed only three Hilltoppers to reach base.
Hilltopper junior Ryan Huck accounted for the lone WKU hit and run with a solo home run, his third of the season and first since a two-homer game against Kent State on March 3. First baseman Scott Wilcox drew a pair of walks and third baseman Casey Dykes saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0-for-3 with a walk.
WKU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Huck.
The Ragin' Cajuns tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Tyler Frederick.
Hilltoppers starter Taylor Haydel limited the Ragin' Cajuns to one run on five hits in five innings. The junior struck out a career-high eight batter. Redshirt freshman Tate Glasscock allowed a hit and recorded one strikeout in 1-1/3 innings. Left-hander Austin Clay struck out two batters in two-thirds of an inning. Four WKU pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts without issuing a walk.
In the series, the WKU pitching staff posted a 1.75 ERA with 30 strikeouts and only three walks, while limiting Louisiana to a .213 batting average.
The Hilltoppers, who do not have a game during the midweek, return to action April 13-15 with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
