It wasn't the way any coach likes to see a game ended.

It certainly wasn't what UL coach Matt Deggs wanted to see.

Down by a run in the bottom of the ninth, it appeared pinch-runner Mark Collins had stolen second base as Caleb Stelly struck out for the second out. On deck was UL's leading hitter in Brooks Wright.

Instead, the home plate umpire ruled interference on Stelly to end the game in a 4-3 victory for No. 21-ranked Troy over the Ragin' Cajuns in the Sun Belt opener Friday at Russo Park.

"I hate to see a guy interject himself like that," Deggs said. "He's a young umpire. He's going to have to live with that one. That's a non-call right there. If it's early in the game and there's no contact, I get it, but let the boys play."

"We were working hard to steal that bag and we get the bag and it's stripped from us. That ain't good. The kid made a clean throw."

The Cajuns dropped to 8-11 overall and 0-1 in league play, while Troy improved to 14-4 and 1-0 in Sun Belt play.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday.

"We competed hard and played well," Deggs said. "Just keep going. That's a good ball club over there. Credit their pitching staff. They kept up with a couple of big hits and that was enough.

"You just keep going. Tomorrow is a brand new day. You get to choose who you want to be tomorrow. Your record or your stats don't dictate who you are or how you want to play. You get the opportunity to decide that in your own mind."

The game was similar to Wednesday's loss to McNeese with a flurry of runs early and then nothing down the stretch.

Troy got a three-run homer to right I the third from Sean Darnell and then a solo homer from Brooks Bryan.

UL starter Matthew Holzhammer allowed those four runs on four hits, five walks and struck out three in 3.2 innings and 94 pitches.

He was relieved by senior southpaw Andrew Herrmann, who responded with 5.1 shutout innings on three hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

"I thought Matty pitched better than the line suggests," Deggs said. "He almost got us to four and Andrew just caught a wave, man. We had umpteen chances to tie that game. If we just take a lead, that one is over."

UL's offense got two runs in the first on a clutch two-out, two-run single from Jose Torres in the first.

In the fifth, the Cajuns added a run on Stelly's RBI double, but UL couldn't add another run. It was the first time in five games UL didn't strand double figures, but did add eight to make it 55 over the last five games.

"They're strong," Deggs said. "You've got a first-rounder behind the plate. They did what you're supposed to do on a couple of hangers, but other than those two pitches, we pitched it great. You hold that offense to seven hits and four runs, I'll take that tomorrow for sure."

Herrmann's duty didn't produce a win, but did save a few arms. That's critical because Deggs revealed senior reliever Dylan Theut's injured ankle will keep him out "for a while".

The best guess is JR Tollett will start game two.

"I thought we played well and competed well," Deggs said. "They want to win."