LAFAYETTE, La. – A doubleheader split for Texas State (19-26, 9-9 Sun Belt) over Louisiana (23-20, 9-9 Sun Belt) clinched a series victory for the Bobcats. The Ragin' Cajuns took the first game 9-0 at Russo Park but TXST responded with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
 
Game 1: Louisiana 9, Texas State 0
The Cajuns struck first in the fourth on a ground out to first to take a 1-0 advantage. They would extend their lead in the fifth when Bobby Lada hit a solo homer to left field.
 
In the seventh, UL added three runs with all of them coming with two outs to make it a 5-0 contest.
 
Four insurance runs were tacked on in the eighth for the Cajuns.
 
The Bobcats had a chance to put runs on the board in the third after Jaxon Williams and John Wuthrich drew walks but the duo was left stranded. TXST also left a runner on second in the second, fifth, sixth and ninth innings.
 
Zeke Wood (2-4) took the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings. Connor Cooke (5-2) picked up the win with seven shutout innings, nine strikeouts and gave up just four hits.
 
Chase Evans and Justin Thompson combined for all five of Texas State's hits in the contest. Thompson was recorded three base knocks and Evans had two.
 
Game 2: Texas State 6, Louisiana 2
The Bobcats' bats came alive in the first beginning with a double by Wuthrich. After a single by Thompson put runners on the corners, Dalton Shuffield smacked an RBI double to right to give TXST an early 1-0 advantage.
 
A Lada home run in the third tied the game. The Cajuns nearly took the lead later in the inning but Wuthrich threw the runner out at the plate for the third out.
 
Will Hollis led off the fourth with a single. Shuffield followed with a hard shot to third that saw the fielder make a diving stop and get Hollis at second but Shuffield was safe at first. Two batters later, Bryce Bonner laced a 2-1 pitch down the left field line to plate a run. Cole Coffey then singled to right center to increase the Bobcats' advantage to 3-1.
 
Jose Gonzalez came on to pinch hit for Bonner and laced the first pitch he saw down the left field line for his 14th double of the season. After a pitching change to bring on a left-hander, Coffey singled past the third baseman to drive in Gonzalez.
 
Back-to-back walks to Jaxon Williams and Evans loaded the bases for Wuthrich. The junior outfielder hit a sacrifice fly to left field to put TXST ahead 5-1.
 
UL answered in the bottom of the frame with a run and could have had more after leaving two in scoring position.
 
Hollis quickly got the run back in the top of the seventh as he led off with a homer to right field.
 
Tristan Stivors struck out the side in the ninth to close out the series clinching win.
 
Picking up the win on the rubber was Otto Wofford (3-1) as he threw an inning of relief. Austin Perrin (1-2) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings and struck out four.
 
Tony Robie started on the mound for Texas State. He struck out three while giving up a run on five hits in 4.1 innings of work. Matthew Nicholas had a strikeout in 1.1 scoreless innings and Austin Smith got the lone batter he faced out. Stivors recorded the final six outs with four of them being via a strikeout.
 
Coffey, Hollis, Shuffield and Thompson all had two hits in the game. Coffey plated two runs while Shuffield finished with two doubles.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a meeting with nationally ranked Texas on Tuesday in Austin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will air on the Longhorn Network.
 
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