University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Win Mardi Gras Classics, Collect 11th Straight Win
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004
LAFAYETTE – No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette pushed across
three runs over the first two innings and junior pitcher
Brooke Mitchell made it stand as the host-Ragin' Cajuns
defeated Stephen F. Austin 3-1 to claim the championship
of the 1st Annual Louisiana's Mardi Gras Classic here
Sunday afternoon at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.SFA starting pitcher Nicole Carter issued seven free passes over two innings and the Cajuns weren't shy about taking advantage of the opportunity they were presented.
Mitchell capped off a weekend of domination striking out eight batters and scattering six hits – of which five were all infield singles.
Mitchell ended the
tournament with 50 strikeouts over 28 innings and issued
just one walk. She allowed two runs, but both were
unearned.
For her efforts, she was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Holly Tankersley and Ashley Evans each had one hit for the Cajuns (13-1) who were limited to just two hits by Carter and reliever Crissy Autry combined.
Autry threw four innings of no-hit relief, retiring the Cajuns in order each inning, after replacing Carter after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third.
Carter, who took the loss for the LadyJacks (5-7), had a rough going in the first inning.
She issued walks to Hillary Guidry and Holly Tankersley. After a fielder's choice grounder from Danyele Gomez no play could be made and the Cajuns had the bases loaded with no outs.
Carter would then issue a walk to Lacey Bertucci to bring home Guidry with the first run of the game.
Joy Webre capped
off the Cajuns scoring in the first when she lifted a
towering sacrifice fly deep into right center field that
scored Tankersley to make it 2-0 Louisiana-Lafayette.
Webre's sacrifice fly proved to be the game's winning run as SFA would push across an unearned run in the fourth inning.
UL Lafayette's final run of the game was a product of an RBI single from Tankersley in the bottom of the second. Her hit brought home Evans who had led off the inning with a single to left field.
With the win, Louisiana-Lafayette pushed its season-high, win streak to 11 straight and notched its 31st straight home triumph.
Mitchell collected her fourth win of the tournament and 10th of the season.
Her eight strikeouts moved her into sole possession of third place on the all-time strikeouts list with 577 career strikeouts in her 79th career appearance. She surpasses current UL Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief (1987-1990) who had 576 career strikeouts.
Carrie Woydziak and Crista Hargrove each had two hits to pace the Jacks offensive effort.
Carter lasted just two innings, allowing three earned runs off of two hits. Her downfall was issuing five walks.
UL Lafayette ended the tournament with a perfect 5-0 mark to claim the outright championship.
SFA ended the tournament with a 3-2 mark and earned a second place finish by virtue of tiebreaker (run differential) with Southeastern Louisiana (also 3-2).
-- Mardi Gras Classics --
