NATCHITOCHES, La.-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns fell to 11-3 on the season as they dropped their second straight one-run game Tuesday night, 2-1, to Northwestern State. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns pitching staff kept NSU down, but allowed two runs, including an unearned run and fell by the final score of 2-1. 

The Cajuns could not muster any offense as the Demons starting pitcher Heath Hennigan held UL to just three hits on the night.  Hennigan tossed a complete game surrendering one earned run and striking out six Cajuns batters. 

Andrew Laughter took the hard luck loss for the Cajuns.  Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Laughter surrendered his first run of the season.  The run was unearned, but provided the difference in the tight game. 

Starting pitcher Greg Wilborn tossed five solid innings en route to a no decision.  Wilborn scattered five hits in 5.0 innings of work.  He fanned four batters without issuing a walk. 

The rest of the Cajuns’ bullpen was solid on the night.  Brent Solich and Justin Robichaux both worked a scoreless inning a piece.  Both gave up a hit and Solich recorded a pair of strikeouts. 

Xavier Alexander, Kolin Hatfield and Tim Santiago had the Cajuns only three hits. 

Alexander’s single through the left side in the top of the third inning extended his team-leading hitting streak to 13 games. 

The single also plated Santiago who was on second by way of the Cajuns’ only extra base hit, a double down the right field line. 

The Demons were the first team to plate a runner in the game.  In the second inning, Brett Johnson led off the inning with a triple to left centerfield.  Wilborn struck out the next batter, but a single up the middle scored the first run of the game.  The Cajuns escaped the inning without any more damage as Wilborn struck out the next batter and induced a fly ball to end the inning. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns answered in the top of the third inning.  Following a pair of pop ups, Santiago doubled down the left field line.  He came around to score as Alexander singled through the left side of the infield.  Alexander was picked off at first base to end the inning, but the Cajuns had knotted the score at 1-1. 

The seventh inning would prove to be the pivotal inning of the night.  With one out, Brandon Richey singled, but moved to third base on a Cajuns’ error.  A sacrifice fly scored the unearned run and saw the Cajuns trailing 2-1 with just six outs to try to regain the lead. 

The Cajuns had a chance in the eighth inning.  With two outs, Hatfield singled up the middle to put the tying run on base.  Hatfield was nullified on the next pitch as the Cajuns hit into an inning-ending fielder’s choice. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns will look to rebound from their first pair of back-to-back losses as they open conference play with a three-game weekend series with South Alabama.  The Cajuns and Jaguars will begin the series on Friday, March 9 with a game at 6:30 p.m. The next two games will be broadcast regionally on My KLAF.  Saturday’s televised game will begin at 2:05 p.m., with first pitch of Sunday’s contest at 1:05 p.m.

-Ragin’ Cajuns-