May 31, 2014
LAFAYETTE, La. - San Diego State saw its season come to an end as if suffered a 9-2 loss to host Louisiana at the NCAA Regional in Lafayette, La., Saturday afternoon. The defeat eliminated the Aztecs from the tournament as they conclude their 2014 campaign with a record of 42-21, a figure that represents the most wins for the program since 2002 and the team's top winning percentage since 1991.
After being shut out for the first time all year Friday night, the No. 1-ranked Ragin' Cajuns came out swinging on Saturday. Each of their first two hitters connected for first-pitch singles against SDSU starting hurler Bubba Derby. A third single later in the frame gave them a 1-0 lead and they would never be caught.
Louisiana added four more to its total in the second inning on three hits and three walks. The big blow in the frame was a three-run home run to left off the bat of Michael Strentz. After a two-out single made it 5-0 Derby was lifted in favor of freshman Brett Seeburger. Derby's final line read 1.2 innings with the five runs allowed on six hits with three walks and a strikeout as he took the loss and saw his record drop to 8-4.
San Diego State tried to get back into the game with single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, but each time the Ragin' Cajuns would respond with two runs in the next frame.
In the bottom of the fourth, a one-out single by Ty France was cashed in by an RBI triple from catcher Brad Haynal to make it 5-1. But Louisiana got a pair if unearned runs in its half of the fifth to make it a 7-1 game.
In the bottom of that inning SDSU started with a single by Ryan Muno and walk to pinch hitter Spencer Thornton. After Evan Potter moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt, Muno scored on a ground out to shortstop off the bat of Greg Allen and the lead was cut to 7-2. But again the Ragin' Cajuns put up two in the top of the sixth to make it 9-2 and end the scoring.
Louisiana starter Carson Baranik went 6.1 innings allowing both SDSU runs on six hits with a walk and strikeout as he improved to 11-1. Matt Plitt went the final 2.l2 frames surrendering just a pair of hits and a walk.
France ended the afternoon with a pair of hits and a run scored while Muno also had two hits (including a double) and scored once.
Among the 2014 season highlights for the Aztecs were winning the conference tournament for the second time in two years, placing five players on the all-tourney team including the MVP for the second consecutive season and having five athletes earn all-Mountain West Conference honors.