Early Offense, Key Defense Leads Cajuns To SBC Sweep of GSU, 4-3
Louisiana's Griffin Hebert launched his first collegiate home run with a solo blast in the fourth inning and the Ragin' Cajuns found creative ways to score early before getting a game-inning, double play with the bases loaded to claim a 4-3 win over Georgia State to complete a three-game Sun Belt Conference sweep Sunday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
Louisiana (30-18, 12-12 SBC) capped a 5-0 week and won for the 11th time in its last 15 games as it completed its first SBC sweep since blanking Georgia State (22-25, 10-14 SBC) last season in Atlanta. The Ragin' Cajuns improved to 12-0 overall against GSU at home, 22-2 in the all-time series, and extended their overall win streak to 14 games.
Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings before Louisiana got on the board in the third. Drew Markle led off the winning with a double into the left-center field gap off GSU starter Cole Roberts (1-3), moved to third on Mark Collins' bunt single up the third-base line and scored on Noah Lewis' fielder's choice.
Hebert, who replaced Rigoberto Hernandez after he was hit by a pitch in the first inning, led off a three-run, fourth inning by belting the first pitch he saw from Robert for his first homer in a Louisiana uniform for a 2-0 lead.