LAFAYETTE, La. (5/16/25) – Arkansas State baseball exploded for a seven-run third inning en route to a 13-3 run-rule victory over Louisiana in seven innings Friday at Russo Park, clinching the series win.
With the win, A-State (26-26, 14-15 SBC) earned its first series win over the Ragin' Cajuns (25-29, 15-14) since 2018 and first in Lafayette since 2012.
The Red Wolves pounded out 11 hits, including a team-high 3-for-5 day from
Cross Jumper.
Kaden Amundson homered and drove in a game-high 4 runs, while
Ashton Quiller had two hits and 2 RBIs.
A-State starter
Tyler Weimer tossed 2.0 innings before giving way to
Cooper Garrison (W, 3-2) who earned the win in 5.0 shutout innings. Garrison allowed just three hits in his outing while striking out seven Cajuns.
Louisiana took a 1-0 lead after the opening frame on a run scored by Maddox Mandino, but the Scarlet and Black answered on Amundson's three-run blast that drove in
Daedrick Cail and
Cason Tollett.
In the bottom of the second, Louisiana knotted it at 3-all with an RBI triple by Connor Cuff that scored Lee Amedee, and then Cuff touched home on a single by Mark Collins.
Jake Henry Williams sparked A-State's seven-run third-inning outburst with a two-run single to score
Patrick Engskov and Jumper.
Cason Campbell then scored on a throwing error at the plate before a two-run double by Quiller plated Cail and Williams. Amundson scored on a sacrifice fly from
Wil French, with an RBI single by Jumper to score Quiller, putting the score at 10-3 after three.
A-State tacked on a run in the fourth when Quiller was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, driving in Campbell.
The Red Wolves scored their final two runs of the night in the sixth when Tollett scored on an RBI triple by Cail, who then touched home on a sacrifice fly by Amundson.
Needing a run to extend the contest, Louisiana drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Garrison retired the next three batters he faced to end the ballgame.
A-State is vying for the series sweep to end the regular season on Saturday, with first pitch against the Ragin' Cajuns set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. The radio broadcast can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network.
