After a 2-1 start to the 2023 season, Matt Deggs and the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns welcomed fans back to Russo Park with a matchup with the BYU Cougars. Mason Zambo delivered with three RBIs in the contest to lead Louisiana to a 4-3 victory over BYU.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game began with a double to the gap by Ozzie Pratt, the leadoff batter for BYU. Shortly after, a two-out double by Austin Deming scored Pratt to give them the early 1-0 lead.
Louisiana kept the Cougars close and finally answered in the bottom of the fourth, with Julian Brock beginning the inning with a double off a BYU error before Mason Zambo brought him into score on an RBI single to make it 1-1.
BYU regained the lead in the top of the seventh after Tate Gambill drew a walk with one out followed by a Jacob Wilk RBI double to score Gambill from first to take the 2-1 lead in the series opener.
Later in the inning, Ozzie Pratt delivered for the second time in the contest with an RBI double down the first base line to score Wilk and extend the lead to 3-1.
The bottom of the eighth started with a hit by pitch and a walk, then a failed pickoff at second put the runners at second and third with one out for Mason Zambo, who drove in the run earlier in the game. After drawing a full count, Zambo delivered again with a base hit into the outfield to score a pair and tie the game for Louisiana.
Later in the eighth, Caleb Stelly pinch-hit for Connor Higgs and delivered in a big way, singling to left center to score Ben Robichaux, who pinch-ran for Zambo and give the Cajuns a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth.
Blake Marshall came on to pitch the final two innings for the Cajuns and shut the door on the Cougars in the 4-3 victory.
BIG NUMBER: 3
Louisiana put three runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth to give themselves the 4-3 lead with one inning to go.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mason Zambo
Zambo went 2-3 at the plate with two huge hits, driving in three runs for Louisiana to help them to the win.
UP NEXT: Louisiana and BYU will continue the four-game series with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch in Game 2 at Russo Park.