The Cajuns Subdue Aggies 5-4

While Aggie fans were discussing their plans for next weeks super regional in Houston, the Cajun baseball team let it be known that they are the team to beat in the regional.

It wasn’t surprising to the Cajun baseball team and fans that Texas A&M really didn’t seem to respect the accomplishments of the Cajuns’ 2007 season. Much like the NCAA selection committee’s decision, the Cajuns were giving very little chance to win the College Station Regional by the Aggie faithful. Yet, after tonight’s 5-4 victory the Cajuns are in position to do just that.

The first inning didn’t start out as planned for Hunter Moody. After striking out Texas A&M leadoff hitter Brian Ruggiano, Moody couldn’t field Ben Feltner’s bunt for an error. Brandon Hicks would continue the Aggie game of small ball by bunting for a base hit and advancing Feltner to second. Moody would come back and get Blake Stouffer to pop out, and Craig Stinson to foul out.

The Cajuns could not get anything going in the first inning as Kyle Nicholson forced the first three batters to ground out.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cajun’s started out with another ground out by Jefferies Tatford. But the Cajuns would get on the board when Nolan Gislcair took a 0-2 pitch from Nicholson over the left field fence next the light pole and giving the Cajuns a 1-0 lead.

The Aggies would continue to play small ball putting pressure on Hunter Moody and the Cajun infield until the top of the fourth, when Kyle Colligan led off the inning with a homer over the centerfield wall. Moody would then walk Brodie Greene, and Parker Dalton would then sacrifice Greene to second. Ruggiano then doubled down the left field line scoring Greene giving the Aggies the 2-1 lead. Ruggiano would be thrown out trying to steal third by Jonathan Lucroy and Moody would end the inning striking out Feltner looking.

Moody would continue to pitch well and keep the Cajuns in the game going 6.2 innings and striking out 9 Aggies, before getting lifted after a Blake Stouffer homerun in the bottom of the seventh. Cajun right hander Andrew Laughter would relief Moody and would get Luke Anders to ground out to end the inning, with Texas A&M up 3-1.

The Cajuns would start to rally in the bottom of the seventh when Nicholson walked the first two Cajun batters, Lucroy and Tatford. Gisclair would single through the left side on the infield, loading the bases. Scott Hawkins then singled up the middle, scoring Lucroy and Tatford to tie the game at 3-3. Matt Casbon would then single to left field, scoring Gisclair from second and giving the Cajuns a 4-3 lead.

Jonathan Lucroy would homer to left center, giving the Cajuns an insurance run and a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning.

But the Aggies would not go quietly into the night as Blake Stouffer hit a double to left field to start the Texas A&M rally in the top of the ninth. Craig Stinson would then hit what looked to be the game tying home run to deep left, but Cajun left fielder Jefferies Tatford would leap up at the top of the wall, making a spectacular catch for the out. Luke Anders would continue to make Cajun fans sweat doubling to left center, driving in Stouffer and closing the gap 5-4. Andrew Laughter would finally get Colligan to ground out to second and sending the Cajuns to the regional championship game Sunday.

Nolan Gisclair, Scott Hawkins and Matt Casbon led the Cajun hitting attack, each collecting two hits on the night.

The Cajuns advance to the championship game Sunday at 6:30 PM and face the winner from the Ohio State, and Texas A&M game at 1PM.