Sacred Heart comeback attempt fails in 4-3 loss to Breaux Bridge

VILLE PLATTE-- In what would turn out to be a wild finish, the Sacred Heart Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but fell short of overtaking the Breaux Bridge Tigers in a 4-3 non-district loss here on Monday.
With the loss, Sacred Heart falls to 4-5 on the season and is scheduled to play today at 3:30 against South Beauregard in the Eunice Tournament, weather permitting.
“This was a hard one to swallow,” said Sacred Heart head coach Cody Vidrine. “We did a tremendous job of battling back. We are going to have to learn how to finish games like this. Picking up wins against quality opponents early in the season is important for the power points. One thing is our guys fought to the end.”
This game, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was moved because of the impending weather forecasts, had all the markings of a pitcher’s duel.
Both starting hurlers held the opposing offenses in check for most of the game, giving up only eight hits combined.
Trojan right-hander Jacob Dupre worked four and one-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits and struck out one in picking up the loss.
Tiger pitcher Braylon Dore went the distance for Breaux Bridge, giving up three runs on four hits and struck out three in the win.
The first two innings of the game was dominated by pitching, as neither squad could get a base runner on board.
Breaux Bridge broke through in the third inning when Luke Huval drew the lead off walk to start the top of the third.
Huval moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt from Cole Mouton, but was stranded at second base after a fly out and a strike out retired the side.
Sacred Heart countered in the bottom half of the third when Garrick Fontenot singled with two outs and Jacob A. Lafleur walked, giving the Trojans a runner in scoring position.
However, Dore got out of the jam by getting Keaton Tate to fly out to center field to end the threat.
Breaux Bridge drew first blood in the top half of the fourth inning scoring two runs on only one hit.
Tyler Thibodeaux single to lead off the inning and was bunted over by Dore.
Alex Franks drew a walk and both players were able to score courtesy of three wild pitches from Dupre.
The inning ended on a ground ball to third base and a pop up to shortstop.
The Tigers added another run in the fifth inning on two hits. Dupre was lifted for Conner Fontenot, who coaxed the last two outs of the inning with two ground outs.
Breaux Bridge tacked on another run in the top of the seventh courtesy of a walk, two wild pitchers and a passed ball to go up 4-0.
Meanwhile, the Trojans struggled offensively, recording only two base hits from the fourth through the sixth innings, one from Nick LaHaye and the other off of the bat of Dupre.
Sacred Heart did not allow the deficit or their lack of offensive production to squash their intensity.
The Trojans made a minor adjustment at the plate in the bottom of the seventh that allowed them to crawl back into the game; become more patient.
That strategy began to pay dividends for Sacred Heart as the first three batters Dore faced drew walks.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Conner Fontenot singled scoring LaHaye.
Garrick Fontenot hit a deep fly ball to centerfield and scored Jacob L. Lafleur on the sacrifice to make the score 4-2.
A potential game changing line drive hit off of the bat of Jacob A. Lafleur, was snagged out of the air by Breaux Bridge shortstop Julien Leon for the second out.
Keaton Tate drew a walk to load the bases once again with two out, bringing Caleb Soileau to the plate.
Soileau hit a routine grounder to Leon who tried to get the force at second base.
However, the runner was called safe. But, in the process of the play, the Tiger second baseman reeled around and throw out the potential tying run trying to score from second base for the final out of the game.
Vidrine complemented the play of Breaux Bridge after the game, particularly the pitching of Dore.
“Hats off to Breaux Bridge,” stated Vidrine. “They did what they needed to for the win. Their pitcher (Dore) is their number one guy and it showed this afternoon. This is one of those games that you have to learn from.”
“Right now we are still finding out who we truly are,” Vidrine continued. “I think we are in good shape in all aspects of the game. We are going to continue to grind it out day in and day out.”
At the plate, Garrick Fontenot, Nick LaHaye, Jacob L. Lafleur and Conner Fontenot all collected one hit apiece.
Conner Fontenot gave up one run on one hit, struck out two and walked two in his relief appearance on the hill for the Trojans.