By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
After a few days off to host – and for several players to participate in — the Texas Collegiate League All-Star game on Wednesday, the Baton Rouge Rougarou was back in action Friday night. They were hosting the Brazos Valley Bombers at Pete Goldsby Field with a few new names and faces.
Cody Jamison, a former assistant coach for the Bombers, is the new manager of the Rougarou, replacing Jeff “Rooster” Southall who resigned. Added to the lineup were LSU infielder/pitcher Gavin Guidry at second base, UL pitcher Landrey Wilkerson at DH and Central Missouri’s Adamo Stornello at catcher.
They’ll all have to wait for their first Rougarou win, however, as the Bombers broke a 3-3 tie by scoring two-runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-3 win. The game was delayed two hours and then shortened to seven innings because the Bombers had mechanical difficulties with their bus and arrived about 25 minutes before game time.
The Rougarou managed only five hits, but one of those was a 2-run home run by Mozell Little II (his first of the season), which tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. T.J. Grines had two singles, Davis Meche had one and newcomer Wilkerson had one.
The Bombers knocked six hits, including a pair of doubles. Starting pitcher Payton Cooper threw five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits. He walked two and struck out one. Jack Hill picked up the loss after throwing two innings in which he gave up two run (one earned) on two hits with no walks. He struck out five.
The Rougarou jumped early, scoring one run in the first. Grines led off the game with a single, then Josh Shelly walked. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, but then Guidry walked. Derrald Moore Jr. hit into a fielder’s choice that took out Grines trying to score, but then Sully Stringer hit a ground-out that allowed Shelly to score.
After Brazos Valley scored one run in the top of the third to tie, the Bombers scored two run in the top of the fifth on Cole Plowman’s 2-run home run.
But Little answered with his own 2-run blast in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Brazos Valley retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs on a dropped third strike, a Rougarou error, a wild pitch, a run-scoring single, a stolen base and a double.
The Rougarou and the Bombers will face each other once again Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Goldsby Field. The Rougarou host the Seguin River Monsters on Sunday before going back on the road Monday.