Cane Cutters News

The Acadiana Cane Cutters (10-14) dropped back-to-back games to the Gumbeaux Gators (14-9) in their first visit to Lake Charles in franchise history. These losses saw Acadiana fall to last place in the Louisiana division of the TCL, while Lake Charles secured their place as first-half champs after the Baton Rouge Rougarou (12-10) lost to the Seguin River Monsters on Tuesday.

Game one’s 5-8 loss saw pitching struggle from the jump with dreaded free bases. The Cane Cutters were out-hit and out-pitched, only managing seven knocks compared to the Gator’s 10 and issuing 10 walks to the Gators’ mere three. 

An unlucky round of pitching spelled early trouble for the Cane Cutters. Three walks and a hit batter from starter Jose Nunez put the Gators up first and put reliever Blayne Newman in a jam. Though attempting to limit the damage, not much could be done after two more walks and the Gators’ first hit of the night cleared the basepath and gave the home team a four-run lead early. 

Acadiana made up for the damage in the second inning, taking advantage of starter Luke Courville’s struggle to locate the zone. With bases loaded, Ashton Quiller drove in the first run on an RBI-single. Tanner Hornback and Mark Collins were hit at the plate, bringing in two more runs. Bryce Calloway drew a walk on a full-count, sending yet another home to tie the game 4-4. 

Despite the rally back, the Cane Cutters could do little else against Courville’s reliever Parker Primeaux, only managing one more run in the remainder of the game. The Gumbeaux Gator offense broke the tie in the third inning, putting up a three spot and adding their eighth and final run in the sixth inning. 

Tyler Velino (0-3), who entered in the third inning, took the loss. He gave up seven hits and one earned run through 4.1 innings of work, managing to strike out two batters. Gumbeaux Gator Primeaux (2-0) earned his second win and Carson Laws walked away with his fourth save.

Kade Linn, a redshirt-sophomore out of Louisiana Christian, made his first mound appearance in this first game of the series. He took over for Velino in the eighth to close, allowing just one hit while striking out four of the eight batters he faced. 

Game two was a pitcher’s duel for the first five innings of play. Rising UL freshman Will Taylor allowed just three hits and struck out six in a scoreless start. The Gumbeaux Gators’ Parker Morgan fended off Acadiana batters in a similar fashion, allowing a similar three hits while punching out four. 

The Cane Cutters broke the ice after Hank Howard plated the first run of either club in the sixth, scoring on a fielder’s choice. The Gumbeaux Gators responded with a three-run inning in the bottom of the eighth, taking advantage of three free bases and managing two hits.

Bennett Mittelsteadt and Austin Mills scored to tie the contest in the top of the ninth, but the Gumbeaux Gators managed to walk off on an RBI single from Aidan Welsh to secure the series 4-3.

Acadiana closer Julian Garcia (0-1) took his first loss of the year while Lake Charles closer Carson Laws (2-0) took the win. 

The Cane Cutters open up the second half of the season against the Victoria Generals on the road June 27-28 and will face the Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators at home on June 29-30. First pitch for each game will be at 7:05 p.m. and every game can be streamed live on TCL TV. 

Fans can keep up with the Cane Cutters on X (@CanecuttersBB), Instagram (@canecutters.bslb), and Facebook (@Acadiana Cane Cutters Baseball). 

Special thanks to Sports Writer Maddy Branning

NOTABLES:

• Dylan Biddick extended his on-base streak to 19 games. He managed three hits and drew one walk across the series. He stands at No. 2 for on-base percentage in the TCL. 

• Dylan Biddick sits at No. 7 for batting average in the TCL (.328). He’s recorded 21 hits after 64 at-bats.

• Bryce Calloway hit his first triple of the year in game one. He and Mark Collins are the only Cane Cutters to post triples so far. 

• Hank Howard leads the lead in slugging percentage (.509). He sits at No. 9 for batting average in the TCL (.321).

• Acadiana finished in last place in the Louisiana division and No. 5 overall in first-half play. 

• Acadiana leads the TCL in walks (170) and doubles (34).