Texas State eliminates Ragin’ Cajuns to reach Saturday’s Sun Belt Semifinals

LAFAYETTE, La. – Luke Sherley had three hits and drove in three runs as Texas State staved off elimination one more time as they defeated Louisiana, 11-1, in a seven inning run-rule contest on Friday at the Sun Belt baseball tournament.

Jaylen Hubbard, Dylan Paul and Dalton Shuffield added two hits for the Bobcats (30-24-1) and Mickey Scott chipped in with two RBI for the sixth-seeded Bobcats.

Zachary Leigh went six innings, allowing one run on one hit, a home run, striking out six. Leigh (4-3) was relieved by Kyle Bradford who came in to pitch the final inning.

Nick Lee (3-7) took the loss for the Cajuns who fell to 34-25 on the season.

Texas State advances to the semifinals to face No. 3 Troy in another elimination game. Troy defeated Texas State on Wednesday, 5-1.

Louisiana jumped on the board first with a solo home run by Kole McKinnon in the top of the third. Texas State matched that with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Sherley, scoring Jonathan Ortega.

The Bobcats added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jared Huber reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Hubbard from third who singled to lead of the inning. Ryan Newman singled after Hubbard and scored on Paul’s single through the middle.

Texas State broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs in the frame.

Ortega walked to lead off the inning and then Sherley singled through the right side, advancing Ortega to second. Hubbard then hit a single of his own to score Ortega. Hubbard would advance to third on a wild pitch that would score Sherley as the Bobcats took a 5-0 lead.

Scott singled scoring both Dererk Scheible and Hubbard. And Ortega, batting for the second time in the inning, walked with the bases loaded to score Huber who was walked earlier in the inning. Sherley got his second hit in the inning with a double down the left side to score Scott and Shuffield.

Texas State added a final run in the bottom half of the sixth.

Jaguars Advance to Saturday’s Semifinals with 12-0 Win over Eagles
LAFAYETTE, La. – Brendan Donovan and Hunter Stokes each drove in three runs apiece as South Alabama shutout Georgia Southern, 12-0, in the first of two elimination games on Friday at the Sun Belt baseball tournament.

With the run-rule win the Jaguars (32-24) advance to Saturday’s semifinals for a rematch with top-seeded Coastal Carolina.

Jared Proctor (5-1) earned the win for USA, pitching seven innings and striking out five. He issued no walks and gave up just three hits on the day. David Johnson earned the loss for Georgia Southern, whose season came to an end at 30-24 overall.

USA outhit the Eagles 15-3 with six Jaguars registering at least two hits. Travis Swaggerty and Donovan scored three runs for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead over the first two innings, scoring six runs in the first and three in the second thanks to five free passes (walks/hit by pitch). Dylan Hardy and Swaggerty walked to open the first inning and Donovan doubled, scoring Hardy from second. Carter Perkins then grounded out scoring Swaggerty, Perkins’ seventh RBI of the tournament.

Wells Davis was walked and Stokes drove a towering shot to right field scoring both Donovan and Davis. Paul Russo singled after the home run and then stole second before being singled in by Will Luft.

The top of the second saw Swaggerty get on with a single to center then Donovan was hit by a pitch. Perkins then drove in his eighth RBI of the tournament scoring Swaggerty. Davis was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Donovan would score on a RBI single from Michael Sandle. Russo then singled to right field, scoring Perkins.

The Jaguars added three more runs in the top of the seventh before closing out the game in the bottom half of the inning.

Jason Swan, Mason McWhorter and Christian Avant each had a hit for the Eagles.