University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
No. 1 Arizona
Cajuns Suffer Heartbreaking Loss to Arizona, Eliminated from Kia Klassic
3/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Saturday, March 20, 2004
FULLERTON, Calif.-Arizona starting pitcher Alicia Hollowell proved to be too much for the Ragin' Cajuns, as the Wildcats defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 2-0 Saturday evening here at the Kia Klassic. The loss eliminated the Cajuns (28-4) from the Championship Bracket.
Hollowell (19-0) struck out 18 batters, while Mitchell (22-3) struck out four. Mitchell is six strikeouts away from becoming the first Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher in school history to eclipse 300 strikeouts in a single season.
In the top of the first, Hollowell struck out Hillary Guidry to begin the game, followed by a Holly Tankersley ground out. Danyele Gomez struck out swinging to end the Cajuns half of the inning.
In the bottom half of the first, Mitchell was equally as effective-retiring the Wildcats in order to end the first frame.
Hollowell struck out the Cajuns side in order in the top of the second-Joy Webre, Brittany Bryant and Tiffany Grayson. Mitchell, in turn, shut down the Wildcats 3-4-5 hitters to keep the game scoreless after two innings.
Mitchell and Hollowell each retired the opponent's side in the third inning.
Arizona centerfielder Caitlin Lowe hit a slow, dribbling single to Mitchell for the first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lowe later stole second. Autumn Champion then hit a bloop single over Tiffany Hebert, advancing Lowe to third. Lowe later scored on a Wendy Allen sacrifice fly to left field.
Mitchell struck out Mackenzie Vandergeest for the second out, but walked Shelly Schultz on the ensuing at bat. Jackie Coburn hit a hard liner past Hebert, scoring Champion. Schultz was thrown out at third by Crystal George to end the inning. The Wildcats led 2-0 after four complete innings.
For the second inning in a row, Hollowell struck out the Cajuns side, keeping the Wildcats 2-0 lead intact after four and a half innings. Mitchell, in turn, retired the Arizona side.
Allyson Von Liechtenstein drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth. She was then thrown trying to steal second. Samantha Quintero struck out, followed by a Candace Abrams ground out to end the inning.
Lacey Bertucci struck out to lead off the sixth inning, followed by a George ground out. Pinch hitter Leslie Pierce struck out to end the Cajuns half of the inning.
In the Wildcats half of the frame, Mitchell retired Lowe and Champion for two outs. Allen drew a two-out walk, but Vandergeest popped up to Bryant to end the inning.
Guidry ended Hollowell's bid for a perfect game, singled past the shortstop for the first Cajuns hit of the game. Tankersley, Gomez and Webre struck out in order to end the game.
Game 4 Line Score
Arizona 2, Louisiana-Lafayette 0 (Mar 20, 2004 at Fullerton, Calif.)
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Louisiana-Lafayette. 000 000 0 - 0 1 0 (28-4)
Arizona............. 000 200 X - 2 3 0 (33-0)
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Pitchers: Louisiana-Lafayette - Mitchell. Arizona - Hollowell.
Win-Hollowell(19-0) Loss-Mitchell(22-3) T-1:31
-LOUISIANA'S RAGIN' CAJUNS-
