MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — Lee Amedee’s three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning lifted Louisiana-Lafayette to a 7-4 victory over Texas State in the first game of a Sun Belt doubleheader Saturday at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.

The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 38-22 overall and 16-12 in Sun Belt play, while the Bobcats dropped to 36-24 and 13-15.

Amedee, a second baseman, finished with two hits and three RBIs, including his sixth home run of the season. His blast to deep right field scored Blaze Rodriguez and Noah Lewis, who had reached on a single and a hit by pitch, respectively, extending Louisiana-Lafayette’s lead to 7-2.

Texas State responded in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run homer by Justin Vossos, his fifth of the year, but the Bobcats could not close the gap. Vossos’ shot to deep left field scored Jackson Cotton, who had singled.

The game remained scoreless through the first three innings as both starting pitchers worked efficiently. Louisiana-Lafayette broke through in the fourth inning. Colt Brown walked, Drew Markle was hit by a pitch and Mark Collins singled to left to drive in Brown. After a sacrifice bunt, Donovan LaSalle delivered a two-run single to left-center, scoring Markle and Collins, giving the Cajuns a 3-0 lead.

Texas State answered in the bottom of the fourth when designated hitter Manny Salas homered to deep center field, his 15th of the season, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Louisiana-Lafayette added a run in the sixth inning. Collins walked, Maddox Mandino singled and LaSalle followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Collins and making it 4-1.

The Bobcats scratched back in the bottom of the sixth. Salas doubled to left-center, advanced to third on a single by Clayton Namken and scored on a wild pitch, trimming the deficit to 4-2.

Both bullpens kept the game tight until the ninth. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Sawyer Pruitt started and worked six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Hayden Pearson pitched a scoreless seventh, and Ty Roman worked the eighth.

Texas State’s Jesus Tovar started and allowed three runs in five innings. Cade Smith gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings, and Wade Cooper allowed one run in 2/3 innings. Kyle Froehlich surrendered Amedee’s homer.

Louisiana-Lafayette collected eight hits, while Texas State had ten. Salas had three hits, including a homer and a double. Vossos drove in two runs. For the Cajuns, LaSalle had two hits and three RBIs, and Mandino added two singles.

The Cajuns entered the game having lost the series opener Thursday 4-3 against Texas State. They had won five of their previous six games, including a 5-4 win at Coastal Carolina on Friday. The Bobcats had won three of their last four, including a 6-5 win at Appalachian State on Wednesday.

The game was the first of a scheduled doubleheader, with the second game to follow Saturday night. Louisiana-Lafayette’s next 10 games include this doubleheader against Texas State, while Texas State’s next 10 also include this twin bill.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Texas State 7, Louisiana-Lafayette 6, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Louisiana-Lafayette a 53.70 percent probability to win.