Cajuns Slip Past Northwestern State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2003

CAJUNS SLIP PAST NORTHWESTERN STATE Michael Parrott works out of two bases loaded jams in relief, Cajuns capitalize on NSU errors

LAFAYETTE – Michael Parrott tossed 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and Louisiana's Ragin' Cjauns softball team took advantage of two Northwestern State errors to take a 3-2 win over the Demons here Saturday at Lady Cajun Park in game six of the 17th Annual Louisiana Classics.

Parrott worked her way out of two bases-loaded jams to pick up her third win of the season and second in the tournament. She improves to 3-0 on the season and has yet to allow an earned run in 20 1/3 innings of work. Amanda Ortego (1-4) was saddled with the loss for NSU allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in seven innings.

With the win, UL Lafayette moves to 2-1 in the weekend event and into a tie with McNeese State for first place. Northwestern State falls to 1-3 in tournament play and dropped its third straight after a 3-2 upset win over Notre Dame in the tournament opener on Friday.

The Cajuns took the early 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman and Lafayette native Lauren Castle (Comeaux HS) ripped the first home run of her young career with a solo shot to left center field off of NSU starting pitcher Ortego.

Senior All-American third baseman Becky McMurtry put the Cajuns on the board once more in the third with a solo home run to left center. The home run was McMurtry's second of the season and in the tournament and gave UL Lafayette a 2-0 lead after 2 ˝ innings.

NSU pushed across its first run of the game its half of the third inning. Lindsey Danzy doubled to left field over a drawn in Cajuns outfield for the Demons first hit of the game of UL Lafayette starter Brooke Mitchell. Danzy was brought home on an RBI single to center field by Nicole Martin which cut the Cajuns lead to 2-1. The Cajuns avoided any further damage that inning as Martin was gunned down at second base by center fielder Tiffany Grayson for the final out of the inning.

The Demons would draw even the next inning when Cajuns catcher Joy Webre dropped an apparent third out allowing Ortego to score and tie the game at 2-2. UL Lafayette reliever Michael Parrott, who replaced Brooke Mitchell with one out, got Shay Hunt out on strikes and forced Lindsey Danzy to ground out to first to end the threat.

Louisiana-Lafayette would take the lead back for good in the top of the fifth. A two-out error by NSU third baseman Katrina Walker on a grounder to third by Joy Webre allowed Tiffany Grayson to score from second base.

Webre's grounder was picked up Walker who made a mental error by stepping on third base not realizing there was no force out on the play. Walker then hastily threw over to first base and misfired on the throw sending it sailing over first baseman Lindsay Leftwich's head allowing Grayson to round third and score and advance Webre to second.

Parrott would retire the Demons in order in the fifth and sixth innings and worked her way out of trouble after the Demons had loaded the bases in the seventh.

NSU's Krystle Nichols led off the bottom of the seventh and reached base on fielding error by McMurtry. McMutry came up to field a soft dribbler by Nichols and overran the ball allowing it to roll into left field. After Hunt flied out to center field, Danzy singled up the middle followed by a Sarina Nocak single through the left side and the Demons had the bases loaded with only one out.

Parrott would then get Nicole Martin to pop up to Brittany Bryant at second base. McMurtry ended the game, atoning for her error at the start of the inning, by grabbing a grounder by Danzy and stepping on third base for the final out.

Northwestern State will take the rest of the day off and return to action in its tournament finale on Sunday at 11a.m. against Notre Dame. UL Lafayette has one more game left Saturday, a 6:30 p.m. rematch with Notre Dame.

-- Louisiana Classics --

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

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