The Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators got a bit of revenge and spoiled the Rougarou’s homecoming Friday night, taking a 14-1 victory in the Baton Rouge season opener at Pete Goldsby Field.
It was pretty much a complete reversal from the Rougarou’s 18-5 win Thursday night in Lake Charles. Baton Rouge had 18 runs on 18 hits on Thursday; Lake Charles had 18 hits on Friday off of five Rougarou pitchers. Together they walked six and struck out seven.
But this time the Gators' pitchers held the Rougarou to three hits. Pinch-hitter J.T. Simonelli broke up a combined no-hitter in the top of the seventh with a single then added another in the bottom of the ninth. Jesse Lord followed that with another single in the final frame, then Dylan Champagne hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Simonelli and end the shutout. But that was all the Rougarou could rally up in their first loss of the season.
The Rougarou also benefitted from eight free passes but left all of their runners stranded.
The Gators and the Rougarou will meet again Sunday at 7 p.m. at Goldsby Field.
By Lori Lyons, Rougarou writer