The 20th‑ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers opened their Sun Belt Conference series on the road against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, only to fall 7‑2 in a game that swung early and late.
Early Dominance by the Cajuns
Louisiana surged to a 5‑0 advantage in the first few innings, capitalizing on a flurry of hits and aggressive base running that left the Chanticleers scrambling to respond.
Blake Barthol sparked a comeback with a two‑run homer in the seventh, cutting the margin to 5‑2 and igniting hope among the Chanticleers.
Late Surge Secures the Win
The Cajuns answered back in the bottom of the seventh, adding another run to push the score to 6‑2 before the final out sealed a 7‑2 victory.
Coastal Carolina finished the contest at 35‑18 overall and 20‑8 within the Sun Belt, a respectable tally that nonetheless leaves them needing a rebound in the next game.
The two teams will meet again Friday night, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. ET and a live stream on ESPN+.