DeBarge, Louisiana, Earn Improbable 4-3 Win Over Tulane

LAFAYETTE –Kyle DeBarge went 3-for-5 at the plate, including a walk-off, three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to help Louisiana earn a 4-3 win over Tulane in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

Blake McGehee (1-0) pitched 4.0 solid innings of shutout relief to earn his first win at the collegiate level as Louisiana (8-7) scored all four runs in its final two at-bats and claimed the series over Tulane (10-6).

“We’re just a tough, gritty team with a lot of bounce-back and response,” head coach Matt Deggs said. “I’m asked about Kyle DeBarge a lot and there’s nothing definitive or totally discernible that you go, ‘man, that what makes him, him. He has it. Johnny Manziel had it. Alex Bregman has it. (Former UL shortstop) Baby Blake Trahan had it, and he just expects to win no matter what he’s doing.

“I guarantee you, that’s not the first time he’s ever done something like that. He’s a natural born winner.”

DeBarge, who was called out on strikes on his previous at-bat in the eighth, got a chance for redemption in the ninth after Tulane reliever Jacob Moore (1-1) got the first two outs in the ninth, getting Jose Torres to pop out before fanning Bryan Broussard, Jr.

Moore got pinch-hitter Luke Yuhasz chasing a 2-and-2 pitch for an apparent game-winner, but the ball got away from Tulane catcher Colin Tuft and allowing Yuhasz to reach first on a wild pitch.

Trey LaFleur then kept the inning alive for Louisiana when he singled through the left side and giving DeBarge the opportunity.

Then, the game paid him back. The junior shortstop faced a pair of inside sliders from Moore, fouling off the previous pitch, before depositing another 2-and-2 offering inside the left-field foul pole for his sixth home run of the season.

Tulane took advantage of 11 free passes issued by Cajuns pitching, scoring an unearned run in the second inning before runs in the fourth and fifth gave the Green Wave a 3-0 lead.

Nathan Rose was hit by a pitch to open the second for Tulane and advanced to third on Brock Slaton’s double over the glove of LaFleur at first to put runners in scoring position. Jackson Linn then grounded back to Louisiana starter Carson Fluno, who caught Rose in a rundown between home and third, but his throw was mishandled by Lee Amedee and resulting in a 1-0 lead.

Slaton scored for Tulane in the fourth after leading off with a single and eventually scoring on Gavin Schulz’s RBI grounder.

Brady Marget led off the fifth for the Green Wave, who scored nine unanswered runs over the final three innings in an 11-8 win on Friday, when he homered off Louisiana reliever Steven Cash for a 3-0 lead.

“They (Tulane) got a good ball club, they’re definitely on the right track of what they’re looking to build over there,” Deggs said. “They have a really good offense, they have some good arms and well-coached. That will pay big for us winning that series right there and getting on the right track.”

McGehee, who had accumulated 6.0 innings in relief in six appearances on the season, held Tulane at bat the rest of the way. The Alexandria, La., native retired the side in the sixth and worked out of a jam in the seventh after hitting Tuft to lead off the inning.

The right-hander was aided by a 5-4-3 double play and after giving up a double to Teo Banks and walk to Connor Rasmussen, got Rose to hit into a soft liner to second base, beginning a stretch of retiring his final seven batters.

“We don’t get to that point (end of the game) without Blake and what he did on the mound in keeping Tulane in check,” Deggs said. “That was as good as a performance he’s had for us and I’m so happy he was able to capitalize on the opportunity.”

LaFleur, who also finished 3-for-5 for Louisiana, led off the eighth with a double to chase Tulane reliever Carter Benbrook before eventually scoring three batters later on Caleb Stelly’s RBI grounder to second.

Louisiana held a 9-4 advantage in hits with Torres, John Taylor and Josh Alexander each collecting hits. Torres excelled behind the plate for the Ragin’ Cajuns throwing out a pair of potential base stealers while making a diving grab in foul territory in the second inning and resulting in a double play.

Louisiana will play its next four games on the road beginning on Wednesday when it travels north to Ruston to face Louisiana Tech in a 6 p.m. contest. The Ragin’ Cajuns will then open Sun Belt Conference play beginning on March 15 with a three-game series in Jonesboro, Ark., against Arkansas State.

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