LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — In a midweek nonconference clash that defied pregame projections, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns erupted for a 15-7 victory over the Grambling Tigers on Tuesday night at M.L. Tigue Moore Field.

The game, played on April 21, 2026, turned dramatically after Grambling seized an early lead. The Tigers batted around in a chaotic top of the first inning, scoring four runs on just one hit — an RBI single by Thomas — while benefiting from three walks, two hit batters and two wild pitches. Louisiana-Lafayette starter Victorian recorded only one out before being relieved by Cole Flanagan, who escaped further damage.

The most important part of the game was the Ragin’ Cajuns’ immediate and sustained response, which began in the second inning and exploded in the third and fourth. Trailing 4-0, Steven Spalitta ignited the comeback with an RBI triple in the second, later scoring on a sacrifice fly by LaSalle to cut the deficit in half.

The third inning proved decisive. After a leadoff single and a hit-by-pitch, the Cajuns executed a double steal. A single by Brown and another by Hernandez tied the game. Spalitta then delivered the key blow, a two-run double to right field that gave Louisiana-Lafayette a 6-4 lead it would not relinquish. Spalitta, the designated hitter, finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, breaking out of a recent slump to pace the offense.

Grambling’s bullpen struggles continued in the fourth. Mark led off with a solo home run, and after a walk, Lee Amedee launched a two-run homer to right-center, extending the lead to 9-4. Amedee drove in three runs total.

The Cajuns sent 10 men to the plate in a five-run fifth inning, capitalizing on Grambling errors, a passed ball and an RBI double by Blaze Rodriguez to build a commanding 13-4 advantage. The Tigers chipped away with two runs in the seventh on a two-run single by Marcellus and an unearned run in the eighth, but Louisiana-Lafayette added two of its own in the eighth on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Maddox Mandino and a run-scoring single by Lewis to seal the final margin.

While the offenses combined for 22 hits, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ relief corps was dominant after the rocky first. Six relievers combined to allow three runs over 8 2/3 innings. JR Tollett was particularly sharp, firing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close the game. Murphy Brooks, Parker Smith and Cole Flanagan also contributed scoreless outings. For Grambling, Mohamed Harati provided 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief, and Payton Allen worked two scoreless frames late.

The win improved Louisiana-Lafayette’s overall record to 22-17, while Grambling fell to 15-23. The result was a stark contrast to the Interstat game simulator’s projection of a 4-3 Grambling victory, though the site’s ELO rating system heavily favored the Cajuns.

Grambling’s Lopez had three of the Tigers’ nine hits, while Thomas and Marcellus each drove in two runs. For the Cajuns, Rodriguez and Mandino joined Spalitta with multi-hit games.

Louisiana-Lafayette travels to face Arkansas State for a weekend series starting Friday. Grambling continues its road swing with a series at Alcorn State beginning Friday.