A-state drops to Lousiana to open series

LAFAYETTE, La. – After taking an early lead in the series opener at Louisiana, the Arkansas State baseball team could not hold off the Ragin’ Cajuns, dropping a 10-3 decision Friday night at M.L. ‘Tigue’ Moore Field/ Russo Park.

The Red Wolves (8-15,

3-4 SBC) saw their fourgame winning streak come to an end against the Ragin’ Cajuns (19-11, 6-1), which tallied 12 hits – 11 of them singles. Ten of Louisiana’s 12 hits came from the 5-9 batters in the order.

Drew Tipton (Bryant) and Tyler Duncan led A-state with a pair of hits on the night. On the mound, Brandon Hudson pitched

3.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Tyler Jeans and Will Gilmer each tossed 1.2 innings of relief before giving way to Josh Albat, who closed out the contest with a shutout inning of work with three strikeouts. Jeans took the loss for the Red Wolves.

Spencer Arrighetti drew the start for Louisiana and pitched 6.0 innings to earn the win. He allowed a season-high three runs on seven hits, striking out seven. Brandon Talley pitched the final three frames to earn the save.

Five Cajuns tallied two hits apiece, while Brandon Borgogno drove in five runs.

A-state touched Arrighetti for two runs in the third on an RBI double by Liam Hicks and a run-scoring single by Ben Klutts to take

an early 2-0 lead.

Louisiana responded in the fourth with three runs on a pair of RBI singles and a bases-loaded hit batsman. Hudson was lifted for Jeans after the hit batter, with Jeans ending the scoring threat with no further damage. The Ragin’ Cajuns led 3-2 after four innings.

The Ragin’ Cajuns added two more in the fifth on a two-run single by Borgogno to make it 5-3. Three more runs scored in the sixth, first on a bases-loaded walk then a fielder’s choice allowed two runs to cross, giving Louisiana an 8-3 lead through six.

In the seventh, a two-run homer by Bobby Lada just barely left the yard, bouncing back into the field of play, driving in pinch-runner CJ Willis to make it 10-3.

Tipton finished 2 for 4 with a run, with Harmony Grove’s Jared Toler going 1 for 3.