LAFAYETTE, La. — Louisiana-Lafayette hit three home runs and pounded out 20 hits en route to an 18-6 victory against UTSA in Friday's series opener in front of 1,788 fans at Moore Field.
The Ragin' Cajuns (5-1) scored in each of the first five innings, including seven times in the fourth, to take a commanding lead.
The Roadrunners (5-1) scored twice in the fifth and two more times in the sixth to pull to within seven, but a five-run seventh by Louisiana-Lafayette put the game out of reach.
ULL was led by Dylan Butler's three-hit, six-RBI performance. Butler also paced the Ragin' Cajuns' home run charge with a three-run dinger in the fifth, while Michael Strentz and Blake Trahan each contributed solo shots. Trahan and Dex Kjerstad tied for a game-high four hits, while Trahan also drove in three runs.
UTSA extended Louisiana-Lafayette's offensive explosion by committing three errors, which turned into 10 unearned runs.
Cord Cockrell (3-0) picked up the win after giving up two runs (one earned) and a pair of hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
Meanwhile, Michael Kraft (0-1) was handed the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 2.1 innings. The left-hander walked two and struck out three.
The Roadrunners' offense managed 11 base hits, including four for extra bases. Horacio Correa III, Daniel Rockett and Mike Warren each registered a pair of hits, while Rockett and John Bormann both drove in two runs.
The weekend set continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Right-hander Brock Hartson (0-0, 2.08 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Roadrunners, while the Ragin' Cajuns will counter with southpaw Cody Boutte (1-0, 4.50 ERA).