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LAFAYETTE, La. – May 15, 2025 — On a warm Thursday night at Russo Park, Louisiana opened its final regular season series with a thud, falling 3-0 to Arkansas State in a disappointing performance that saw the Cajun bats fall eerily silent. With the loss, Louisiana dropped to 15-13 in Sun Belt Conference play and now sits precariously in fourth place with two games left to play before the SBC Tournament.

The Red Wolves, meanwhile, improved to 13-15 in league play and 25-26 overall, using timely power and shutdown pitching to hand Louisiana its second straight conference loss.

Key Moments

Arkansas State broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with a solo homer to left by shortstop Patrick Engskov — his ninth longball of the season — off Cajuns starter Chase Morgan. The Red Wolves struck again in the fifth when Ashton Quiller crushed a two-run shot to left to make it 3-0, giving Arkansas State all the insurance it would need.

Quiller led the offensive charge for the Red Wolves, finishing the night 3-for-5 with two RBIs and the home run. Jake Henry Williams also chipped in with two hits, including a double.

On the mound, Arkansas State starter Gavin Galy delivered a gem, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three. Jack Nelson and Chase Richter combined for the final three innings to seal the shutout, with Richter earning his eighth save of the season.

Louisiana’s Offensive Struggles

It was a frustrating night at the plate for the Cajuns, who managed just four hits in nine innings and failed to advance a runner past second base. Caleb Stelly led the team with two hits, while Conor Higgs added a double — the team’s lone extra-base hit.

Despite strong efforts on the mound from Morgan, Tate Hess, and Dylan Theut, Louisiana’s offense never gave them a chance. The trio allowed just three earned runs on 11 hits, striking out 11 combined, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the offensive drought.

Standings Implications

The loss drops Louisiana to 25-28 overall and leaves them hanging onto the fourth seed in the Sun Belt standings by a thread. With Texas State and Old Dominion close behind, the Cajuns must regroup quickly if they want to avoid slipping into a less favorable position heading into next week’s conference tournament.

What’s Next

Game 2 of the series becomes a must-win for the Cajuns. A victory Friday would not only even the series but provide a crucial cushion heading into Saturday's finale. If Louisiana can win the next two games, they’ll likely secure the No. 4 seed and a more favorable tournament draw. If not, they risk falling into a mid-pack logjam with serious postseason consequences.

One thing is clear: the Cajuns’ bats will need to wake up — and fast.

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