LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Cody Brasch threw 6 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout baseball and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns defeated the Georgia State Panthers 5-1 on Saturday in the first game of a Sun Belt doubleheader at M.L. Tigue Moore Field.

Brasch struck out three, walked none and allowed only a single to William Carlson in the second inning before leaving with a 2-0 lead. The right-hander, who won his second straight start after a 7-inning, two-run effort at Arkansas State on April 24, lowered his season ERA with the dominant outing. Tyler Papenbrock earned a two-inning save, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout.

The Panthers dropped to 22-24 overall and 0-1 in the twin bill, while the Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 28-18.

Georgia State struck first in the top of the first inning without a hit. Leadoff batter Collin Maginnis grounded out, but the Panthers managed to push across a run — the official play-by-play indicated a 1-0 lead after the inning despite no hit or error listed — and held that advantage until the bottom of the third.

Louisiana-Lafayette answered in the third against Georgia State starter Michael Caruso. Chase Mark singled up the middle to start the frame. Mark Collins lined out, but Noah Lewis followed with a double to center field, scoring Mark to tie the game 1-1. Lewis advanced to third on a fielding error by left fielder Ben Beverley, and Lee Amedee singled to shallow right field, giving the Cajuns a 2-1 lead. Caruso settled in after that, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs — both unearned — on zero hits with three strikeouts. He was struck by a line drive in the sixth and left the game.

The Panthers finally pulled even in the top of the eighth. With one out, pinch hitter Jackson Silas grounded out to second base, scoring Nick Killingsworth from third to tie the game 2-2. But the Ragin’ Cajuns answered immediately in the bottom half, scoring three runs to seize control for good.

The decisive rally began with one out when Luke Spalitta singled to right field. After a fielder’s choice put a runner on first, Mark was hit by a pitch to put two on. Collins then singled through the left side, driving in Alex LaSalle to make it 3-2. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Georgia State reliever Nicholas Holbrook moved both runners into scoring position, and Lewis followed with an infield single that plated Mark and sent Collins to third, stretching the lead to 4-2. Lewis stole second, and Amedee walked to load the bases. Jacob Crews entered from the bullpen and struck out Jay Hernandez looking, then got Brown to fly out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Lewis finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Blaze Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double. Mark Collins added two hits and an RBI for the Cajuns, who pounded out 12 hits.

Georgia State managed only two hits in the game, the second coming from Jack Haber in the eighth. The Panthers used six pitchers, with Niall Todd allowing an unearned run in one inning, Holbrook charged with two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, and Crews tossing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

The game marked the opener of a crucial Sun Belt series. Georgia State entered on a four-game winning streak, including a thrilling 8-7, 10-inning victory over Old Dominion on April 26. Louisiana-Lafayette had won four of its previous five, including a 7-1 midweek win over Nicholls State.

The Interstat game simulator projected a final score of Louisiana-Lafayette 7, Georgia State 6, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 66.90 percent probability to win.