Robbins Squeeeeeeezes Cajuns Past Red Wolves, 3-2
The squeeze play has been a part of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns arsenal for several years.
And, it worked like a charm Saturday afternoon at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
Senior Joe Robbins executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth to give the Louisiana a 3-2 win over Arkansas State and a sweep of the three game series.
"Even without the count (0-1) in our favor we thought we'd go for it," Cajuns' coach Tony Robichaux said. "If they pitch out we still have a runner at second with two out and Joe up. The worst case scenario is if the bunt is popped up but Joe is a really good bunter."
Ishmael Edwards drew a one out walk from Arkansas State relief specialist Tyler Zuber (4-1). Edwards reached second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Brad Antchak. With Antchak being held at first and the infield at double play depth, Robbins bunted down the first base line and Edwards scored easily with the winning run.
The Cajuns (20-14-1, 10-4-1 Sun Belt) got on the board in the second inning on a two run single by Brenn Conrad, but the Red Wolves (19-17, 7-8) drew even in the third off Cajuns' starter Hogan Harris on a single by Alex Howard, a sacrifice, a walk to Drew Tipton and an RBI double by Grant Hawkins. A sacrifice fly by Joe Schrimpf tied the game at 2-2.
Harris got out of trouble in the fourth when Howard walked with two out and went to second on a single by Winston Welch. A walk to Drew Tipton loaded the bases, but Harris got Hawkins on a fly ball to right to end the threat.
That was the last base runner Arkansas State would get, as Harris pitched a perfect fifth and sixth and Wyatt Marks (2-1) struck out seven of the nine batters he faced to set the stage for the ninth inning.
The Cajuns will head to Tulane on Tuesday to take on the Green Wave at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.