Louisiana Lafayette Wins, 5-4

OMAHA —  After sending fellow first-time participant San Jose State home earlier this week, Louisiana Lafayette is playing the role of underdog in the College World Series.

The Ragin’ Cajuns displayed a crowd-pleasing flair for the dramatic Wednesday, scoring two runs on one bunt play in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Clemson, 5-4, before an estimated 8,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Louisiana Lafayette (49-19) will play Stanford today. Stanford (49-15) defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns, 6-4, in its opener Friday and also beat Clemson. So Louisiana Lafayette must beat the Cardinal twice in two days to reach Saturday’s championship game.

“The first time [against Stanford], we really played the way we played all year--it just wasn’t good enough,” Louisiana Lafayette Coach Tony Robichaux said. “We feel we match up well with them.”

Louisiana Lafayette looked as if it had met its match Wednesday when Clemson overcame a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning.

But Louisiana Lafayette’s Jarvis Larry walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Neil Simoneaux.

Instead of turning to Nick Glaser, who had a school single-season record 15 saves, Clemson Coach Jack Leggett opted to replace pitcher Steve Reba with Ryan Mottl, who started the Tigers’ opener against San Jose State.

Rick Haydel hit Mottl’s first pitch to left field for a single, putting runners at first and third.

Steven Feehan, who stole home in the fifth, bunted the first pitch up the first base line, driving in Larry. Mottl fielded the ball and made an ill-advised throw to first, the ball glancing off the glove of second baseman Ryan Riley, who was late getting to the bag.

Haydel never hesitated as he rounded third.

Clemson right fielder Justin Singleton picked up the ball and threw a strike to catcher Brian Ellis at the plate, but Haydel slid around the tag for the winning run.

“I knew it was close, but I didn’t know the guy had the ball before I got there,” Haydel said. “I had to slide around the outside of the [plate].”

After the wild finish, the teams scuffled briefly but no punches were thrown.

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College World Series

TODAY’S GAMES

* Stanford (49-15) vs. Louisiana Lafayette (49-19), noon.

* LSU (50-17) vs. Florida State (53-18), 4 p.m.

Times Pacific