LAFAYETTE, La. -- Jace Conrad hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as Louisiana-Lafayette remained alive in the NCAA tournament with an 11-1 victory against Jackson State in an elimination game Sunday.
The Ragin' Cajuns (55-8) led 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, then cruised after a 3-hour, 12-minute rain delay. Louisiana-Lafayette starter Chris Charpentier allowed four hits in four innings, then yielded to reliever Matt Hicks (8-1), who threw five shutout innings after the break.
Christopher Wingard (2-2) took the loss for Jackson State (32-25), which upset regional top seed and host Louisiana-Lafayette 1-0 on Friday night.
The Cajuns advanced to face Mississippi State later Sunday. A win by Mississippi State would put the Bulldogs into their third super regional in four years.
With the game tied at 1 in the second, Louisiana-Lafayette loaded the bases and Conrad hit his third grand slam of the season.
