Arkansas State dropped a 3-2 decision to Louisiana Friday night at Tomlinson StadiumSlayton Family Field despite a strong outing from starter Andrew Allen.
The Red Wolves (25-16, 9-10 Sun Belt) and the Ragin’ Cajuns (24-17, 8-11 SBC) were locked in a pitchers’ duel early, as both starters faced the minimum through the first three innings. Allen highlighted the stretch by striking out the side in the third.
Louisiana recorded the game’s first hit in the fourth inning, but the runner was thrown out attempting to stretch it into a double. Arkansas State answered in the bottom half when Ashton Quiller led off with a single and stole both second and third, but the Red Wolves were unable to bring him home.
Allen worked out of trouble in the fifth, stranding two runners while striking out the final two batters of the inning. Arkansas State broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the frame when Patrick Engskov connected on the first pitch he saw for his eighth home run of the season.
After a quick sixth inning, the Red Wolves added to their lead when Cason Campbell led off with a solo home run, his sixth of the year, making it 2-0.
Louisiana rallied in the eighth, using a leadoff single to set up a game-tying home run to left-center. The Ragin’ Cajuns then took the lead in the ninth, scoring on a two-out single after putting two runners on base.
Arkansas State was retired in order in the eighth and could not answer in its final at-bat.
Sawyer Pruitt (3-3) earned the win for Louisiana, while Cooper Garrison (2-2) took the loss.
The Red Wolves return to action Saturday evening at 6 to face Louisiana in game two of the series.
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