University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Alabama
'Bama Takes Second Game From Cajuns
4/6/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
The Ragin' Cajuns (20-4) held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman pitcher Brittany Cuevas was two outs away from a victory over the Crimson Tide (21-0) when Kellie Eubanks hit a line drive over the wall in left field to even the score at 3-3 and force extra innings.
Louisiana-Lafayette had its shot in the top of the eighth inning to pull in front when Holly Tankersley (leadoff single) advanced to second base on a Chrissy Owens wild pitch. Desi Chatman grounded out to second base and Meagan Godwin struck out for the third out.
Jordan Praytor started things off for Bama in the bottom of the eighth with one out. She dropped down a bunt toward third base and beat it out for a single. Lauren Parker followed with a fly ball to left that was dropped by Chatman to put runners on first and second base.
Mandy Buford then hit a towering walk-off, three-run home run to left field to give
Codi Runyan had a big day and tournament for UL. She went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBI. Runyan hit her third home run of the weekend and finished with 11 RBI in four games at the Easton Spring Fling.
Cuevas received juts her second loss of the season (now 11-2). She pitched 7 1/3 innings with three earned runs allowed on seven hits. She also struck out six and held the Crimson Tide scoreless from the second through sixth innings.
The Tide was the first to score in Sunday's matinee. Buford's first home run of the contest gave UA an early 2-0 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns battled back in a hurry sending a corresponding number of runs in the top of the second inning.
Godwin led off the second with a single to left field. Melissa Verde then hit one back to the pitcher, Charlotte Morgan, but Morgan couldn't handle it and allowed Verde to reach on an error. With one out in the inning, Karli Hubbard loaded the bases with a bunt single that loaded the bases.
Tara Hamilton struck out for the second out, but the next batter, Runyan, came through with a two-out single to center to drive home Godwin and Verde and tie the score at 2-all.
Both Cuevas and Morgan went unscathed in the third and fourth innings. Cuevas allowed only two hits through five complete.
UL took the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Runyan led off the at bat with a solo home run, her third homerun of the weekend and ninth of the season, to give the Cajuns a 3-2 advantage.
Owens improved to 10-0 after coming in to pitch for Morgan in the top of the eighth inning. After giving up a leadoff single to Tankersley she got two of the next three UL hitters to strikeout swinging and end the inning.
Tankersley joined Runyan and Verde as the three Ragin' Cajuns on the All-Tournament Team. Tankersley went 2-for-4 joining Runyan as the UL hits leaders on Sunday.
Louisiana-Lafayette dropped its second straight game ? the first losing skid of the 2007 season.
The 3-2 lead that the Ragin' Cajuns carried into the seventh inning marked the first time this season that
Louisiana-Lafayette is now 4-2 this season against ranked teams. Both losses have come at the hands of the Crimson Tide, members of the Top 10 in both polls.
The 14th-ranked
