JONESBORO, Ark. (3/17/24) – Arkansas State baseball (12-9, 1-2 SBC) engaged in a back-and-forth affair against Louisiana (11-8, 2-1 SBC), but came up short by a score of 8-5 on Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
Dylan Heine made his fifth start this season, surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out two over 4.0 innings pitched. On the flip side, Daedrick Cail recorded his second consecutive multi-RBI performance, bringing in two on one hit over five at-bats.
 
A pair of errors at third base and shortstop allowed A-State to strike in the bottom of the first, with Wil French crossing the plate to make the score 1-0.
 
Louisiana responded with a 414-foot home run from Connor Higgs in the next frame, tying the game at one run apiece. Trey LaFleur added to the tally with an RBI-single to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Ragin’ Cajuns.
 
The Red Wolves took advantage of another fielding error in the third as Cade Tucker scored from second base to tie the game. However, Duncan Pastore fired a grounder past Daedrick Cail at third and into left field for an RBI-single, making the score 3-2 going into the bottom frame.
 
Cason Tollett tied the game once again with a solo-home run over the wall in left field while the Scarlet and Black kept Louisiana off the board in the fourth to end a five-frame stretch with at least one run scored.
 
Kyle DeBarge landed a two-run home run behind left field and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 5-3 advantage during the fifth inning. Following a balk from Steven Cash, Cail scored both runners in scoring position with a single to right field.
 
In the top of the sixth, Josh Alexander recorded an RBI-double before LaFleur and Bryan Broussard Jr. put together a pair of RBI-singles to make the score 8-5 in favor of Louisiana.
 
Both sides would go scoreless for the remainder of the game, with Louisiana holding on for a three-run victory. Steven Cash (1-0) earned the win and Jack Martinez recorded the save while Hunter Draper (1-1) took the loss.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State returns on Tuesday, March 19 for the first matchup of a midweek home-and-home with Southern Illinois. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
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