Louisiana capitalizes on early McNeese Miscues in 11-3 win

George Faust
·2 min read

LAKE CHARLES – Andrew Herrmann fanned eight batters and scattered five hits in 5.0 innings and was benefitted from an eight-run, first inning as Louisiana defeated McNeese, 11-3, in the midweek opener for both teams on Tuesday at Joe Miller Ballpark.

Trey LaFleur capped the eight-run explosion with a three-run, inside the park home run while Josh Alexander belted his first home run in a three-run eighth inning as Louisiana (3-1) collected a season-high 14 hits and seven stolen bases.

Louisiana chased McNeese starter Caleb Strmiska (0-1) after 0.2 innings and sending 11 men to the plate. LaFleur, who finished 3-for-4 with four RBI, led off the game with a single and would score on a McNeese throwing error after Luke Yuhasz’s double to right.

Yuhasz gave Louisiana a 2-0 lead when he slid in under the tag on Conor Higgs’ fielder’s choice to first before Lee Amedee’s base-loaded walk drove in Higgs for a 3-0 advantage.

Clay Wargo then lined a two-run single up the middle for the Ragin’ Cajuns before LaFleur hit the Cajuns’ second inside-the-park home run at McNeese in the past three seasons for an 8-0 cushion.

That was more than enough for Herrmann (1-0), who was making his first start at the Division I level. The southpaw worked out of a pair of jams after McNeese (0-4) led off the second inning with a triple and third with a double.

McNeese added a pair of unearned runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Connor Schneider and Connor Westenburg.

Alexander opened a three-run eighth for the Ragin’ Cajuns with a solo blast to right field off Brock Barthelemy before LaFleur hustled his way to an RBI double and Bryan Broussard, Jr., a sacrifice fly.

Alexander, Kyle DeBarge and Duncan Pastore had two hits each for Louisiana. Steven Cash, Brendan Moody, Matthew Holzhammer and Maddox Mandino combined for 2.2 scoreless innings in relief for the Ragin’ Cajuns before JT Etheridge pitched the final 1.1 innings with a strikeout.

Strmiska allowed eight runs – six unearned – for the Cowboys with Kainin Morrow pitching 4.1 innings of scoreless relief with six strikeouts.

Louisiana will return to action on Friday (February 23) when it opens a three-game series against American Athletic Conference member Rice (1-3) at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

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