LSU Baseball Loses First Game to Ragin’ Cajuns

If only LSU had the opportunity for some late game heroics, things might have been different.  No. 1 LSU lost 4-1 Tuesday to no. 10 ULL in a rain shortened game that was called after 5-and-one-third innings.

Lightning struck in the top of the 6th. The Cajuns were working with a three-run lead, with runners at 1st and 2nd and Jace Conrad at the plate. Once the game was in a weather delay and the rain and lightning picked up, leading to officials to eventually call the game.

In a non-conference matchup, once five complete innings have been played, the game is considered final if it is called. As a result, the Cajuns improve to 8-1 on the season, while the Tigers suffer their first defeat, falling to 7-1.

The victory for the Ragin' Cajuns is the first over the no. 1 ranked team in the country since 2000. It also is the highest ranked LSU squad the Cajuns have defeated, surpassing the 2009 victory in Baton Rouge when the Tigers were ranked 3rd.

Neither coach was happy about the game being cut short, but both understood it was beyond their control.

"We played well for the length of time that we had to play. It's a shame that two good teams didn't get a chance to play it out, but we will take it," said UL head coach Tony Robichaux. "We made plays when we needed to, especially with the length of the game in jeopardy."

"It’s a strange feeling to lose a game when you don’t get to play the full nine innings, but those are the rules of baseball said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. "I never expected us to go 56-0 this season, and there’s no shame in losing a rain-shortened game to a Top 10 team."

LSU's lone run came after Lafayette native Andrew Stevenson hit a triple, then scored off a Tyler Moore fly out.

The loss ends a streak of 32 consecutive wins over Louisiana teams and 34 straight mid-week wins.

LSU plays a three game set this weekend against Yale.

Sources: LSUSports.net, KPEL-AM