PRESS RELEASE
ATLANTA – Freshman Jonathan Windham brought home the winning runs in the 11th inning on Saturday as the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team defeated Georgia State 6-4 in extra innings to even the series at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The victory improves the Ragin’ Cajuns (25-20, 11-9 SBC) to 4-4 in extra-inning games this season with Cajuns picking up their first extra innings win in conference play.
Senior reliever Logan Stoelke recorded his third victory of the season going 4.0 innings with a run on three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Brandon Baker took the loss for the Panthers (21-21, 7-12 SBC) after giving up two unearned runs in an inning of work.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Junior Daniel Lahare reached base four times in the game going 1-for-3 with a double and three walks, while Gavin Bourgeois had two hits with a double and an RBI. Bourgeois has now driven in nine runs on the week with three RBI in the series.
Senior Kennon Fontenot increased his on-base streak to 25 games drawing a walk in the contest and scored a run.
Starter Hogan Harris went 6.0 innings with three runs on nine hits, four walks and five strikeouts in a no decision.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by Kole McKinnon.
The Panthers broke through in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double to right centerfield by Luke Leonard to tie the game at 1-all. Later in the inning, Leonard came home to score on a double steal to put Georgia State up 2-1.
GSU added a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double to left by Will Kilgore to make the score 3-1.
The Ragin’ Cajuns rallied in the top of the eighth as Bourgeois doubled home Hayden Cantrelle to cut the Georgia State advantage to 3-2. Bourgeois then scored on a Bryan White wild pitch to knot the game at 3-all. Later in the inning, Hunter Kasuls drove his third home run of the season over the fence in right field to give Louisiana a 4-3 edge.
The lead would not stand up though as the Panthers got the equalizer in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI infield single by Leonard with two outs.
With runners on second and third and one out in the 11th inning, Windham executed the double squeeze to perfection to score both Zach LaFleur and Marco Ramos to put Louisiana back in front 6-4.
Georgia State threatened in the bottom half of the 11th, but the Cajuns were able to cut down a run at the plate for the second out of the inning on a great relay from Lahare and Kasuls. Stoelke then got Kalen Puckett to ground out to shortstop to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Louisiana looks to claim its fourth consecutive series tomorrow at noon CT in the series finale with Georgia State. Sophomore right-hander Jack Burk will take the bump for the Cajuns, while senior right-hander Jordan Lee will make the start for the Panthers. Fans can listen to the game on News Talk 96.5-FM with Jay Walker and Jeff Schneider on the call.
For the latest updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin’ Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
