University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
McNeese State
Cajuns Stay Perfect at Home
4/6/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
LAFAYETTE ? The 14th-ranked
Brittany Cuevas struck out 10 batters keeping the Cowgirls (5-9) in check until a Holly Tankersley grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning broke open a close game.
Tankersley led all hitters with four RBI going 2-for-3 and picking up her second grand slam of the season.
Cuevas notched her second double-digit strikeout performance and remained undefeated at 8-0 as she picked up her second victory of the season over McNeese.
The Cajuns stranded three runners in the first inning and were retired in order in the second keeping the game scoreless after two complete.
After surrendering back-to-back, two-out hits to the Cowgirls in the first inning, Cuevas would retire the next 15 MSU batters that she faced.
The Cajuns got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Codi Runyan belted her fifth home run of the season deep to left field over the trees beyond the left field bleachers for a 1-0 advantage.
Lacey Bertucci then followed with an infield single on which she advanced to second base on an errant throw by Liz Morvant. Tankersley then singled through the right side of the infield moving Bertucci to third base. MSU catcher Candice Thomas allowed a passed ball on Melissa Verde's at bat allowing Bertucci to score the second run of the inning.
In the sixth inning pinch hitter Tiffany Ritchie ended Cuevas' string of retired batters when she doubled down the left field line. That was followed by another double down the left field line from Brooke Brodhead ending the shutout bid and cutting the Cajuns lead to 2-1.
Louisiana-Lafayette then took advantage of two fielding miscues by the Cowgirls infield in the bottom of the sixth to give Cuevas a little more cushion for the seventh inning.
Tara Hamilton attempted to bunt her way on, but Bram fielded the ball and tossed to Brodhead at first for the first out.
Karli Hubbard then hit slapped the ball to Morvant at shortstop. The throw to reach Hubbard was low and in the dirt allowing her to reach first on an error.
Desi Chatman then served up a single into shallow left field moving Hubbard to second base. Meagan Godwin grounded out at shortstop forcing out Chatman for the second out, but moving Hubbard to third base.
The Cowgirls second error of the inning scored Hubbard making it 3-1 and kept alive the inning for Tankersley's grand slam.
After Runyan reached on a fielding error by MSU third baseman Jenny Clay, Bertucci worked off several pitches before drawing a walk to load the bases.
Tankersley then stepped up and launched a home run over the fence in right center field to clear the bases and create the final margin of 7-1.
Cuevas ended the game allowing five hits ? two in the first inning and three in the final two combined ? and didn't issue a walk. It was her fifth start of the season in which she didn't walk a batter.
Bram took the loss for the Cowgirls. She gave up seven runs, but only one was earned as errors in the infield led to six unearned runs.
The Ragin' Cajuns defeated
UL collected all-time home victory No. 499 moving one win away from the 500th win all-time at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.
No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette will return to action this weekend as the squad participates in the Northwestern State Invitational in
The Cajuns will meet Northwestern State at
