Lafayette, LA – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns closed the regular season on a high note Saturday afternoon, using a seven-run seventh inning to surge past Arkansas State 8-6 and avoid a series sweep. The comeback win was more than a morale boost—it secured the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament and helped the Cajuns avoid the dreaded single-elimination play-in round.

After two frustrating losses to open the weekend, Saturday’s contest looked like more of the same early. Arkansas State held a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, thanks in part to home runs from Wil French and Cason Campbell. The Red Wolves’ pitching staff had held Louisiana to just one hit through six innings.

But on Senior Day, the Cajuns’ veterans refused to go out quietly.

Senior outfielder Conor Higgs sparked the seventh-inning rally with a leadoff single, and moments later, senior catcher Jose Torres drove in the tying run with a fielder’s choice RBI. Senior Matthew Holzhammer earned the win with 2.2 innings of relief, and another senior, Dylan Theut, came on in the ninth to get the save—his second of the season.

The offensive explosion in the seventh included clutch RBIs from Mark Collins, Caleb Stelly, and Lee Amedee, while Higgs delivered the knockout blow with a two-run double to left. In total, eight Cajuns crossed the plate in the final three innings, including a run-scoring double from Torres in the eighth.

Arkansas State (26-27, 14-16 SBC) made it interesting late, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth, but Theut slammed the door with a strikeout and groundout to end the game.

Key Performers:

• Conor Higgs: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored, game-changing 2B in the 7th
• Jose Torres: 1-for-4, 2 RBIs, including a clutch double in the 8th
• Matthew Holzhammer: 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Ks – picked up the win in relief
• Dylan Theut: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 K – earned the save
• Patrick Engskov (ASU): 2-for-5, 2B, 1 run scored
• Cason Campbell (ASU): 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBIs, 1 BB

Head Coach Matt Deggs had a softer tone in today's postgame, a marked difference after the Friday night debacle. "I'm telling you, you need your leadership, " said Deggs. "We had pretty good talking to you last night after the game and again this morning and you know, what we decided is this would be very, very cajun of us is to start our season on the last day of the season because anything's possible."

He also noted that while not pleased with how the season ended, he's happy with today's response. “For everything we've been through to be the five seed… to say I'm happy would be a lie. But  I can also say the same time I'm proud of them for for staying in the fight and continuing to come on.” Deggs continued, “Our goal is always the same: be the last team standing in your hotel. Just that's it when you get to a tournament.”  

Deggs also gave praise to the fanbase during this challenging season. “I want to say thank you to all these amazing Cajun fans too. Best in the country.There's no place like this place."

With the win, Louisiana finishes the regular season at 26-29 overall and 16-14 in the Sun Belt, good for the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.

They’ll now turn their focus to Marshall, their first-round opponent on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium.

If the Cajuns hope to make a deep run, they’ll need to bring a far more consistent effort than what they showed the last two weekends. Still, the pieces are there, now its about heart.

They’ve got the talent. The question now: do they have the will?