 It was the kind of game UL coach Matt Deggs expected in this critical Sun Belt series.
And for five innings, it was going just fine with his Ragin’ Cajuns leading by four runs.
The No. 14-ranked Cajuns, though, didn’t score again and No. 19 Coastal Carolina’s offense exploded late for a 12-10 comeback win over UL in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday in Conway, South Carolina. UL won the first game 8-6.
The Cajuns fell to 31-11 and 15-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, while the Chanticleers are 27-12 and 11-7.
As a result of losing two of three in the series, the Cajuns own a three-game lead in the loss column over Southern Miss (25-14, 11-6), which visits UL this weekend.
Much of the damage was against UL left-hander reliever Blake Marshall, who delivered two memorable relief efforts in two wins over the Chanticleers in last year’s conference tournament in Montgomery, Alabama.
With UL leading 10-6 going into the bottom of the fifth, Marshall allowed five runs on four hits, five walks and struck out three in 1â…” innings.
JT Etheridge also struggled before him, giving up three runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Starter Carson Fluno didn’t fare much better, surrendering three runs on three hits and two walks in 1⅔ innings.
Overall, the staff walked nine after walking eight in Friday’s loss in the opener.
In the second game, Graham Brown was a tough out for the Cajuns, going 3 for 5 with two homers, a double and four RBIs.
Sam Antonacci was 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs as well. Caden Bodine was also 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs to aid Coastal’s 17-hit performance.
The second-game loss spoiled big days UL’s Kyle DeBarge and Connor Higgs. DeBarge had a three-run homer to give the Cajuns their first lead at 4-3 and finished 4 for 5 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. Higgs was 2 for 4 with two homers and four RBIs.
The Cajuns will host Houston Christian at 6 p.m. Wednesday.