Cajuns Clip Eagles

LAFAYETTE - Melissa Verde's single down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Karli Hubbard from second base and the 15^th ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns escaped with a 5-4 win over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in non-conference action on Thursday night at Lamson Park.

The Cajuns improved to 29-7 with the win and USM fell to 10-23 on the season.

Louisiana's Brittany Cuevas earned her 18^th win of the season, pitching a complete game, giving up four hits and striking out seven USM hitters. Samantha Davis, the third Golden Eagle pitcher, was tagged with the loss after pitching the final 4 1/3 innings. Davis fell to 1-6 with the loss.

The Cajuns got things started in the bottom of the second inning with two outs and nobody on base, Karli Hubbard singled past the shortstop and scored from first on a Melissa Verde double to left center. Holly Tankersley followed with a single to centerfield scoring Verde and at the end of two complete innings of play, Louisiana led 2-0.

Southern Miss took the lead in the top of the fourth as Karissa Jones led off with a walk and with one out Megan Hill reached on a Cajun error. Jennifer Fox delivered a home run to left field giving the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Tankersley led off the bottom of the fifth with her second hit of the night with a single to second base. USM made a pitching change placing Samantha Davis in the circle, and Lacey Bertucci greeted her with a home run to left field, giving Louisiana a 4-3 lead. The homer was Bertucci's seventh of the season.

The Golden Eagles were able to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and no runners on base, when Lauren Castellvi stepped to the plate and delivered a Cuevas pitch over the centerfield wall to tie the game at four going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the top half of the ninth inning, but Cuevas was able to work out of the jam, sriking out USM's Brittney Pigott to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth Karli Hubbard singled to left and advanced to second on an error by USM left fielder Brandi Alonzo. Verde stepped up and delivered the game winning shot down the right field line and the Cajuns took the 5-4 win.

The Cajuns had eight hits in the game with Verde, Tankersley, and Hubbard with each two hits. Bertucci and Vallie Gaspard had each one hit.

Louisiana will now host Western Kentucky in a three game weekend Sun Belt Conference series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 1:00. The series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 11:30 am.

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