After getting run-ruled in Friday’s series opener, the UL Ragin’ Cajuns could not bounce back in Saturday’s game two against the Troy Trojans in Troy, Alabama.
The Trojans defeated the Cajuns 8-4 on Saturday as UL's lead in the Sun Belt standings dwindled to one game. The Cajuns dropped to 33-15 overall and 17-6 while Troy is now 34-14 and 16-7.
Game three of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Cajuns opened the scoring with a single tally in the top of the fourth. Kyle DeBarge doubled and took third on John Taylor’s deep fly ball. Caleb Stelly delivered a clutch run-scoring single to center with two outs.
The Trojans responded quickly off UL starter Chase Morgan when Brooks Bryan hit a solo home run.
UL catcher Jose Torres answered as well with a solo blast to left for a 2-1 lead.
Morgan almost got through five innings, but he left with the bases loaded and two outs in favor of UL right-hander LP Langevin. Unfortunately for the Cajuns, Langevin allowed all three runs to score — first on a wild pitch and then a two-run single from Bryan.
That left Morgan's final pitching line at four runs on six hits, one walk and one strikeout in 4⅔ innings.
The Troy offense had more success against Langevin with Kyle Mock homering in the sixth for a 5-2 Trojans' lead. That homer followed a huge Friday night game for Mock, who went 3 for 5 with a double, homer and seven RBIs.
Troy starter Luke Lyon collected the win, giving up two runs on five hits, one walk and striking out four in five innings.
The Cajuns got closer against Troy reliever Logan Ross, who allowed two runs on four hits, no walks and struck out one in 1⅔ innings. Jay Dill got the save with 2⅓ shutout innings with two strikeouts.
Langevin settled down after his rough start to keep UL close until there were two outs in the bottom of the eighth when Troy got a two-run double from Peyton Watts for insurance runs.
Langevin surrendered four runs on four hits, three walks and struck out four in 3⅓ innings.
UL tried to take advantage, scoring two runs in the seventh on Trey LaFleur’s RBI single and Taylor’s run-scoring single to cut the lead to 5-4. But that's where the Cajuns hit a brick wall in their comeback attempt.