JSU Tigers eliminated from Lafayette Regional by Louisiana

PHOTO COURTESY: SWAC.ORG

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana  -- The Jackson State baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA Lafayette Regional Sunday evening at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field, falling 11-1 to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

Gary Thomas and Charles Tillery each recorded two hits for JSU.  Jace Conrad led UL with three hits and six RBIs.

The game was delayed for three hours and 12 minutes when lightning strikes were spotted around the stadium in the bottom of the fourth inning. Prior to the weather delay, the Tigers trailed Louisiana 8-1. Starting pitcher Chris Wingard struggled with his command in the first inning, leading the Cajuns first score of the game. UL scored when Caleb Adams scored Ryan Leonards on a sacrifice fly to center field.

 “They (Ragin’ Cajuns) are an outstanding team,” said JSU head coach Omar Johnson. “We played hard, but we walked too many people. They took advantage of our mistakes. We left a pitch up in the second inning and they hit the ball out of the park. You have to give them all of the credit. They made play after play.”

JSU scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the first. Gary Thomas doubled to left field to get on base and Desmond Russell sent him to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Tilur Smith got hit by a pitch to get on base and Thomas scored on a throwing error, tying the score at 1-1.

“I’m proud of our team, and of the way we competed. We dealt with some adversity and our guys responded. Louisiana-La­fayette is the real deal, and a very good team.”

The Cajuns broke the game open with a five run second inning. With the bases loaded Jake Conrad a grand slam to at the top of the inning, making the score 5-1. UL scored another run in the inning.

JSU (32-25) finished with eight hits and a RBI. Chris Wingard (2-2) pitched 1.1 innings and gave up three runs on one hit.

UL added the final three runs of the game in the seventh inning. The Cajuns scored their 11 runs on nine hits and had 10 RBIs.

JSU Quotes:
Head Coach Omar Johnson
On their mindset going into the rain delay: “Definitely frustrated being down. Rain delays are tough on pitchers, and the how the NCAA has rain delays set up is to protect the student-athlete. You have to learn how to play this time of year because you have to play every inning and every pitch. You don’t get a half­time in baseball, and I guess that was our halftime. Our opponent was really good today.”

On the perception of the program after the weekend: “It’s a big win [on Friday]. There were some things done that haven’t been done since 1993, back-to-back conference championships. Then we had our first ever win against the No. 1 team in the country, and a regional win. It says a lot about the players, and all the adversity and resolve they showed. It says a lot. I’m proud of our players. They compete well. They showed up and gave their best.”

On the team being able to deal with the adversity: “We’ve had a lot of players that had success on differ­ent levels. When players expect to win, a lot of times when you get into championship situations they will respond. We’re fortunate to put a group of guys together to do that.”

On being the fourth seed: “One thing I didn’t say that and I should have, they [Louisiana-Lafayette] put on a first class regional. This was first class, and the atmosphere is awesome. They tried their best to accom­modate us in every way. Respect is earned. They didn’t try to overlook us, and no one tried to down play anything we’ve done.”

On winning when some say JSU couldn’t: “It feels great to be able to do that. It feels great to be able to put a group of kids together who can play at this level. Those guys (Ragin’ Cajuns) are good. Mississippi State is good. You have to put together a good group to be able to compete with these guys. The speed of the game changes at different levels, and you have to be able to keep up with the speed of the game.”

On Louisiana-Lafayette using the bunt: “They are not a one-dimensional team. The key is if the third base­man is behind the bag, it is a bunt situation. They read some keys to the game and were able to put some pressure on. They are an outstanding team."

JSU SS Gary Thomas Quotes
On the season, the run to the regional and the win over Ragin’ Cajuns on Friday: “It means a lot. It is very special to do it against the No. 1 team in the country. It feels good to make history.”
On what the nation knows about JSU’s program: “That we’re no pushover. Every team we play, we play as if they’re the best team in the nation.”

BOX SCORE

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