PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE, La. – Senior left-hander Colten Schmidt guided the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team to a 2-0 shutout of UT Arlington on Friday night to open the series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
Schmidt tossed 8.0 scoreless innings with a career-best 10 strikeouts to claim his third victory of the year for the Cajuns (14-16, 4-6 SBC). The reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, Schmidt limited the Mavericks (14-14, 6-4 SBC) to just three hits and one walk in the outing retiring 18 of the last 20 batters he faced.
Senior Logan Stoelke completed the shutout throwing a scoreless ninth inning to record his eighth save of the season. The shutout is the second of the year for Louisiana.
UTA starter Brad Vassar was handed the loss despite limiting the Ragin’ Cajuns to one run on three hits in 6.1 innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Freshman Hayden Cantrelle had his team-best 13-game hit streak snapped in the contest as Louisiana was outhit 5-4.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Senior Kennon Fontenot extended his hit streak to 10 games going 1-for-3 with a walk, while junior Daniel Lahare improved his hit streak to nine games and his on base streak to 13 games with a bunt single in the eighth inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the fifth when Zach LaFleur came home to score on a two-out single to shortstop by freshman Jonathan Windham.
The Ragin’ Cajuns picked up the only other run of the game in the bottom of the eight as Lahare scored on an error by UT Arlington shortstop Josh Minjarez with the bases loaded and two outs.
The Mavericks had their best threat of the game in the top of the ninth putting runners on the corners with two outs, but Stoelke got David Renning to ground out to shortstop to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Louisiana looks to clinch its first series of the year tomorrow with a 6 p.m. first pitch against UTA at Russo Park. Sophomore right-hander Jack Burk will make the start for the Cajuns, while senior right-hander Trae Patterson will take the mound for the Mavericks.
The game is the annual Military/ First Responder Appreciation Game as all military veterans and first responders will receive a half-price ticket to the game with proper identification and will be invited to join the team on the field for the national anthem.
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