Sciambra’s Walk Off Sinks Cajuns, 4-3

For just a second, it looked like there was going to be some more Cajuns' magic

But Chris Sciambra had other ideas.

The Tigers DH launched a home run to right field off Louisiana reliever WIll Bacon with one out in the ninth inning to give LSU a 4-3 win over the Cajuns in front of 11,179 fans at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field Saturday night.

The win gives the Tigers a 1-0 series lead in the best of three Baton Rouge Super Regional.  Game two will be Sunday night at 6:05pm.

The bottom of the ninth became necessary after pinch hitter Brenn Conrad hammered the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning from Alex Lange over the right field wall for his first career homer to tie the game at 3-3.

But after Chris Chinea lined out for the first out of the inning, Sciambra hit a 2-2 pitch from Bacon (6-3) over the right field fence for his third homer of the season.

The Cajuns (42-22) trailed 3-0 before mounting their comeback with a run off Lange in the sixth inning when Joe Robbins singled with one out.  Kyle Clement then looped a single to put runners at first and second.  Then with two out, Tyler Girouard singled to center to get the Cajuns on the board.

In the eighth with two out, Stephen Trosclair got an infield hit and Girouard coaxed the only walk off Lange.  Even Powell then doubled home Troscialr to make it a one run game.

LSU took the early lead off Cajuns' starter Wyatt Marks in the first inning when Mark Laird led off with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch.  Jake Fraley then doubled down the left field line to give the Tigers (52-10) a 1-0 lead.  Marks retired the Tigers on three ground balls to avoid further damage.

Then in the third, Marks struck out Laird but the Tiger's right fielder reached on a passed ball.  Fraley then homered to make the score 3-0.  But Marks allowed only one hit after the third inning to give the Cajuns a chance for their comeback.

Marks pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs with three walks and five strikeouts.

Lange worked eight innings, allowing ten hits and three runs with a walk and 11 strikeouts. Parker Bugg (1-2) got the win in relief.

Gunner Leger (6-4) will get the start for the Cajuns, while LSU is expected to start lefty Jared Poche (8-1).