Cajuns Open Series with Win

LAFAYETTE ? Lousiana's 15^th ranked Ragin' Cajun softball team stepped back into Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Lamson Park in fashion, as they completed a doubleheader sweep of Western Kentucky with a 10-1 run rule victory in game two. UL had edged the Hilltoppers earlier in the day with a 3-2 win in game one.

Brittany Cuevas pitched a complete game victory for Louisiana in game one improving her record to 19-4 on the season, helping the Cajuns to their 30^th victory against seven losses.

In game two, UL redshirt freshman pitcher Shari Sigur made the most of her first collegiate start and pitched a complete game, two-hitter in leading the Cajuns to the 10-1 run rule win in five innings. Sigur was in control in the circle for the entire contest and the UL offense unloaded for four home runs in improving to 31-7 for the season and 6-2 in SBC play.

In game one, Western Kentucky struck for an early run in the top of the first inning on an Alana Towns RBI single. The Cajuns answered in the bottom half of the inning when Melissa Verde led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a Holly Tankersley ground out to second. Following a Lacey Bertucci base on balls, Codi Runyan delivered an RBI single into left field and at the end of one complete inning of play, the score was tied at one.

The Hilltoppers added a run in the top half of the second to take a 2-1 lead, on a Rachelle Boucher RBI single.

Louisiana took their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning as Lana Bowers led off the inning with a single to left field. Vallie Gaspard reached safely on a WKU error, as Gaspard attempted a sacrifice bunt. Karli Hubbard followed with an infield hit, loading the bases. The Cajuns pushed across two runs as both Bertucci and Desi Chatman walked. UL led 3-2 at the end of four.

The Hilltoppers loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, on a base on balls and Renikka Toliver and Rachelle Boucher singles. Louisiana's Cuevas worked out of the jam forcing a Sam Cronk fly ball to centerfield to end the inning.

In the top half of the seventh, Cuevas retired the Hilltoppers in order and the Cajuns came away with a 3-2, come from behind, win in the first game.

The Cajuns provided Sigur with some early run support in game two as they pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Verde led off with a double to right center, Tankersley singled to center and advanced to second on the throw to the plate, and Bertucci walked loading the bases. Chatman's fielder's choice scored Verde giving Louisiana the early 1-0 lead. Lana Bowers added an RBI single in the first and Megan Godwin's RBI base on balls made the score 3-0.

The Cajuns added three more runs in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to 6-0. The long ball came into play in UL's half of the second as both Tankersley and Runyan went deep. Runyan's round tripper scored Courtney Trahan from second. Trahan entered as a pinch runner for Bertucci who walked in the inning.

Rebecca Horesky tripled to right center in the Hilltoppers half of the fourth and scored on a Alana Towns ground out to second base, cutting the Cajuns lead to 6-1.

Louisiana continued their offensive onslaught, featuring the long ball, in the bottom of the fourth inning as they added two more home runs and and four runs to take a 10-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning. Tankersley singled with one out and scored on Bertucci's eighth home run of the season making the score 8-1. With two outs Runyan reached on an infield single and scored on Bower's second home run of the season.

Sigur retired the Hilltoppers in order in the top half of the fifth and UL completed the 10-1 victory.

In game one UL had six hits agains WKU starter Jennifer Kempf. Kempf took the loss and dropped to 7-9.

In the game two Louisiana pounded out ten hits against Hilltopper pitcher Ryan Rogge who fell to 6-8 with the loss. WKU is now 13-17 overall and 2-3 in SBC play. Tankersley was three for three in game two with a home run and an RBI. Bertucci added two hits and two RBI with a round tripper, and Runyan added two hits and two RBI with a home run. Bowers also had a home run for the Cajuns.

The two teams will complete the Sun Belt conference three game series on Sunday morning at 11:30, with a single game, at Lamson Park.

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