Barbe bounced back in a big way, getting a 12-2 mercy-rule win over Acadiana Thursday after suffering their first District 3-5A loss Tuesday.

The Bucs (24-3, 4-1) were shut out by Sulphur but produced a few big blasts against the Rams, led by Sloan Dieter, who drove in seven runs with a grand slam and three-run, game-ending triple.

Gunner Leger (4-0) threw a complete game to get the win. Acadiana (10-16-1, 2-3) was held to a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning and managed three hits against Leger. Bucs center fielder Garrett Williams made a diving catch with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning.

“We played well,” said Bucs head coach Glenn Cecchini. “Gunner pitched really well; he got his changeup over. Dieter was outstanding, Victor (Negron) did a good job blocking the ball and saved a run, and Garrett made the diving catch. If that falls, the score is 7-4, 7-5. That was a big turning point.”

Barbe scored five runs in the third inning, highlighted by Dieter’s towering grand slam to left field, a pair of runs in the fourth, and ended the game in the fifth on Dieter’s opposite-field triple to right. Braedon Barrett had two hits and scored three runs for Barbe. Beau Jordan had two hits and drove in three runs.

The win was Barbe’s 15th in 16 games. Acadiana has lost three consecutive district games after opening with wins over Sam Houston and Carencro.

Cecchini said his team had no problem rebounding from the loss.

“We put that behind us,” he said. “Sulphur played great. We had chances, but that is part of the game. What the kids and program do well is bounce back. When we lose, we usually come back and play well. You have to be resilient and you can’t dwell on the past. We have to stay in the moment and use it as a chance to grow and move forward.”

Barbe’s Braedon Barrett slides in safe at home as Acadiana catcher Seth Roy tries to keep the ball in front of him during the bottom of the third inning Thursday. (Rick Hickman / American Press)