Louisiana rallied early and held on late Sunday to defeat Missouri State 9-7 at M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park, salvaging the finale of the three-game series.
Missouri State (2-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind Curry Sutherland’s two-run triple and an RBI single from Max Knight. The Ragin’ Cajuns (1-2) responded immediately, tying the game in the bottom of the first, adding another run in the second and launching consecutive home runs during a three-run fourth to build a 7-3 advantage.
The Bears cut into the deficit in the fifth with a two-out rally highlighted by Bobby Atkinson’s RBI double, making it 7-5. Louisiana answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on a hit batter and a walk to extend the lead.
Jackson Beaman brought Missouri State closer with a 437-foot pinch-hit home run in the sixth, and Caden Bogenpohl added an RBI single in the ninth, but the comeback fell short with the tying run left on base.
Reliever Trent Ash kept the Bears within reach, retiring the final 11 batters he faced and allowing one hit and one earned run over four innings while striking out five.
Missouri State continues its road trip Tuesday with a 3 p.m. game at Oral Roberts.
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