By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
The Baton Rouge Rougarou didn’t need a superhero Thursday night, but they had a few show up for Thursday night’s game against Brazos Valley at Pete Goldsby Field.
Davis Meche, who has played just about every position in his college career, took a turn in all nine positions for the Rougarou — a different one every inning — to celebrate Ironman Night. He also threw out the first pitch.
But the team also got a solid pitching performance from Will Tarpley and knocked eight hits, including a solo home run by Austin O’Malley, to take a 4-2 win over Brazos Valley.
Tarpley let the Bombers sprinkle five hits over seven innings, giving up one unearned run, walking one and striking out six. Meche pitched the eighth inning, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk, but he struck out two much to the delight of the home crowd. Connor Spencer closed it out, striking out two and walking two but giving up no runs or hits in the final frame.
The Rougarou scored one run in the second inning when Landrey Wilkerson singled, stole second and scored on a triple by Jackson Walker.
The Bombers tied it in the third with a Rougarou error and a double.
But Baton Rouge regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Derrald Moore Jr. led off with a single, followed by a single by Banks Byers. Both runners advanced when Meche grounded out. Kyle Walker drove Moore home on a fielder’s choice that moved Byers to third. He scored on a passed ball.
O’Malley added the insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run.
Meche said he had a great time moving around the field.
“It was fun,” he said. “The hardest was probably catching. Pitching was the most fun though. I hadn’t done it in a long time.”
The Rougarou will take Friday night off before hosting the Bombers again Saturday night.