Box Score (PDF)

LAFAYETTE, La. – No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette scored nine unanswered runs and left-hander Gunner Leger turned in a quality start to lead the Ragin' Cajuns to an 11-1 series-opening win over the University of South Alabama baseball team Friday at Russo Park.

Leger (5-1) allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks in six innings pitched to earn the win. Right-hander Wyatt Marks tossed three scoreless relief innings and struck out seven batters against one walk to record his third save of the season. Jaguar right-hander Randy Bell (1-3) allowed seven runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 4 1/3 innings in the loss.

"It wasn't like Randy (Bell) was awful," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "I thought (Louisiana) Lafayette was pretty good. I've seen Randy just like that and survive a better fate. I don't want to take anything away from Louisiana-Lafayette's hitters; I thought they did a really nice job. They had some men on base, which opens up holes. In the fifth inning, they worked to get on base; they had some infield singles, hit some balls hard and in some holes and the next thing you know a five-spot happened really quickly. They were dialed in offensively tonight. Randy's stuff was pretty good. I have seen him better, but I thought he was good enough tonight to get us through six or seven innings, but I give Louisiana-Lafayette's hitters credit."

ULL (15-11, 5-2 SBC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a one-out, two-run home run to left field by Joe Robbins.

USA (15-11, 5-2 SBC) threatened in the top of the third, but did not produce a run. Jared Barnes reached on a one-out single back up the middle, and moved to third on a single to right field by Dylan Hardy to put runners at the corners with one out. But Leger induced a 1-4-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Drew LaBounty to escape the inning and preserve a two-run Cajun lead.

USA answered in the top of the fourth on a leadoff solo home run to right field by Brendan Donovan, his third of the season, to cut the ULL lead to 2-1. 

The Cajuns loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on three consecutive singles by Handsome Monica, Hunter Kasuls and Ishmael Edwards. But Bell struck out Brenn Conrad to escape the jam and keep the Jaguar deficit at one run.

ULL added five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a six-run lead. Consecutive singles by Robbins and Steven Sensley put Cajun runners at the corners with no outs. Tyler Stover followed with an RBI single to center field for a 3-1 ULL lead. Back-to-back RBI singles by Kennon Fontenot and Alex Pinero pushed the Cajun advantage to 4-1. Kasuls then reached on a hit by pitch to force home the fifth ULL run of the contest. Edwards followed with a two-run single through the left side of the infield to extend the Cajun lead to 7-1.

South Alabama threatened in the top of the seventh, but did not produce a run. Will Luft drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on a single to left field by Barnes. A two-out walk by Donovan loaded the bases for Travis Swaggerty, but ULL right-hander Wyatt Marks recorded a strikeout to end the threat. 

The Cajuns added the final runs of the contest in the bottom of the eighth on RBI singles by Sensley, Stover, Pinero and Monica.

Barnes went 3-for-4 to lead the Jaguars at the plate, and Donovan added a home run, one RBI and one run scored. Sensley finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cajuns offensively.

The series will continue with game two Saturday at 6 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club, the baseball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/dugoutclub.