MONROE, La. (Press Release) – Three different Ragin’ Cajuns went yard in Thursday night’s ballgame, but it was not enough to keep pace with ULM, who defeated Louisiana, 6-3, in the series opener at Warhawk Field.
Louisiana (25-29, 13-15) has been accustom to the long ball this season, having hit at least three home runs in six games this year. The Ragin’ Cajuns are now 5-1 in those contests.
Seniors Hunter Kasuls, Handsome Monica and Orynn Veillon were responsible for the three homers. Kasuls’ was one of his two hits on the evening, making him the only Ragin’ Cajun with multiple hits, while Veillon’s extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
Monica’s solo shot was his 13th deep ball on the season, tying him for fourth in the Sun Belt with Little Rock’s Riley Pittman. The 13 homers are the most by a Ragin’ Cajun in a single season since Stefan Trosclair hit 16 during the 2015 campaign.
Sophomore Austin Perrin (3-5) took the loss on Thursday, allowing all six runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. He finished the game with five strikeouts.
Louisiana was unable to score in the opening frame despite loading the bases with no outs, something that came back to haunt it when ULM took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a single to right field.
In the top of the third, Kasuls tied things up at one run apiece with one swing of the bat, sending a 2-1 pitch over the right-field wall. However, the Warhawks responded with a jack of their own, a three-run shot to left field, to go ahead, 4-1.
After ULM extended its advantage to 6-1 with a two-spot in the fifth, Monica and Veillon each contributed solo shots in the sixth and eight, respectively, to cut the lead to 6-3. However, it was not enough as ULM held on for its first win over Louisiana since 2012.
