Pugh’s two-out hitting helps Bobcats blank Cajuns, 2-0
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Texas State’s Samson Pugh delivered a pair of two-out hits, including a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to break up a scoreless contest, and Jesus Tovar kept Louisiana off-balanced at the plate to help the Bobcats to a 2-0 victory on Saturday at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
Tovar (1-2) recorded his third consecutive quality start for Texas State (14-16, 5-6 SBC), which snapped a 10-game losing streak to Louisiana (16-17, 7-4 SBC) dating back to 2022. The southpaw allowed four hits with a pair of strikeouts while being aided by three double plays.
Andrew Herrmann (2-3) took the loss for Louisiana despite going 8.1 innings with four strikeouts. The left-hander, who recorded his second quality start of the season and sixth of his career, didn’t allow a base runner until Ryne Farber’s leadoff double off the glove of a diving Owen Galt in the fourth inning. Herrmann kept Texas State off the board until the seventh inning when he issued a leadoff walk to Alan Shibley.
Shibley advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Vossos before moving to third on Austin Munguia’s flyout to right. Pugh, who finished 2-for-4 at the plate, then lined the first pitch from Herrmann through the left side to drive in Shibley for a 1-0 lead.
Pugh would give the Bobcats an insurance run in the ninth after Shibley singled off the first base bag and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After reliever Tate Hess fanned Munguia for the second out, Pugh delivered his second, two-out hit of the day when he lined a double over Conor Higgs in left field.
Louisiana managed a pair of base runners through the first three innings as Higgs reached on an error in the first before a pitch hit Drew Markle in the third. The Ragin’ Cajuns picked up their first hit in the fourth on Caleb Stelly’s single to right, but Tovar induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Galt added a one-out single in the fifth for Louisiana before Tovar got Clayton Pourciau to hit into a 1-4-3 double play to end the frame.
The Ragin’ Cajuns looked to set up their first major threat of the day in the seventh when Lee Amedee reached on an infield single. Jose Torres then followed with a single to right, but Amedee was tagged out at third on a throw by Shibley from right.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball season and single-game tickets are available for purchase online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685). Fans can also support the baseball student athletes, and invest in the program's future, through the Krewe Allons NIL Collective (click here).
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