Conway, S.C. – Coastal Carolina took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, yet saw the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns score 10 runs over the next four innings to pull away from the Chanticleers in a 10-0 win on Friday night at Springs Brooks Stadium.
The shutout loss is only the second for the Chants this season and marks the first time that CCU has been shut out at home since a series-opening 4-0 loss to Troy back on April 28, 2017.
Coastal’s offense managed only six base hits on the night, all of which were singles, led by designated hitter Jake Wright’s (2-for-3) two-hit game. Kieton Rivers (1-for-4), Kyle Skeels(1-for-3, HBP), Zach Biermann (1-for-2, BB) and pinch hitter Morgan Hyde (1-for-1) combined for the other four base knocks in the loss.
The Ragin’ Cajuns were efficient at the plate, scoring 10 runs on 11 base hits, two of which were RBI doubles. Left-fielder Todd Lott (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) and right-fielder. Orynn Veillon (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) drove in two RBIs each, while four other RBIs came from four other players.
CCU starter Anthony Veneziano (4-2) carried a no-hitter until the top of the fifth and sent down 11-straight Cajun batters over the first four innings on the mound, before giving up three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth inning to pick up the loss. The junior gave up four runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts in 6.0-complete innings.
Louisiana starter Jack Burk (2-2) pitched his best game of the season, as the right-handed hurler struck out seven and scattered five hits over 6.0-scoreless innings in the win.
Left-handed pitcher Austin Perrin (1) earned his first save of the year with 3.0-scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Coastal opened up the game with back-to-back singles from Wright and Rivers in the bottom of the first inning, yet left both runners were stranded in the opening frame.
After pitching around an error in the top of the first, Veneziano sent down 11-straight Louisiana batters to keep the Ragin’ Cajuns off the scoreboard through the first four innings of the contest.
However, the CCU offense couldn’t get the bats going, as the Chants stranded two more in the second and one more in the fourth to keep the game scoreless going into the fifth inning.
A lead-off walk and a bunt single to open up the top of the fifth got the Louisiana offense going, as Tremaine Spears singled to right center field to score the first run of the game.
A wild pitch that allowed the second run of the inning to score followed to put the visitors in black and red up 2-0.
The inning continued with a ground ball out to the first baseman and then a delayed squeeze bunt that worked to perfection to plate another run for the Cajuns and put the visitors in front 3-0 midway through the fifth.
Louisiana added another run in the sixth on back-to-back singles and an RBI double to left center field from Handsome Monica to extend its lead to 4-0.
While the Chants stranded the lead-off runner in the sixth and two more on base in the seventh, the Ragin’ Cajuns continued to add to its lead with three more runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to pull out to a 10-0 lead.
Louisiana’s scoring run was stopped by redshirt freshman Kiernan Higgins (1.0 IP, K) who threw just six pitches for a 1-2-3 ninth.
At the plate, the Chants walked twice compared to just 13 strikeouts and left 10 runners on base in the loss. On the other side, Louisiana walked four times, struck out just five times and left seven on base.
Coastal (26-19-1, 11-10 Sun Belt) and Louisiana (21-27, 9-13 Sun Belt) will play game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET at Springs Brooks Stadium.