University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Seton Hall
Cajuns Get 18-Run, 16-Hit Effort to Beat Seton Hall
4/6/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
The Ragin' Cajuns exploded for five runs in the second, four in the third and nine runs in the fourth. UL (19-2) got a season-high 16 hits and season-high 18 RBI.
The Cajuns were led by their leadoff hitter, Codi Runyan, who drove in a career-high seven runs on two hits, including a three-run home run to center in the second inning and a double with the bases loaded in the third inning to score three more.
Three Cajuns pitchers combined to shut out the Pirates (1-11) with Holly Tankersley earning her seventh win of the season.
Tankersley gave up one hit in three innings of work, while Shari Sigur pitched the fourth inning, giving up one hit. Amanda Hill came on to pitch the fifth inning for the Cajuns, setting the Pirates down in order.
The UL bats were the story on Friday afternoon, as the Cajuns pounded out 16 hits, including home runs from Codi Runyan, Melissa Verde, and Desi Chatman.
After a scoreless first inning, UL plated five runs in the top of the second inning. Megan Godwin started the inning with a Texas Leaguer to left field for a double, the first of her two hits on the day.
With one out, Chatman started the scoring with a two run blast to centerfield, and the Cajuns led 2-0.
Lana Bowers followed with a single to center and Karli Hubbard singled to left field, putting runners on first and second for Runyan who hit the Cajuns second home run of the inning, making the score 5-0.
Runyan who added a double and a sacrifice fly later in the game said that co-head coach Michael Lotief provided the team with a plan and they went out and executed. "They were pitching me inside, and Coach Mike gave us a plan before the game and we were able to come out and execute it," said Runyan.
Louisiana-Lafayette added four more runs in the top of the third and then blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth as they scored nine more runs, making the score 18-0 after 3 1/2 innings of play.
Hubbard had an RBI single in the third inning and with the bases loaded and one out, Runyan cleared the bases with a double to left centerfield increasing the UL lead to 9-0.
Verde started the scoring in the fourth inning with an RBI triple and scored on a Chatman single. Verde would also hit a grand slam home run later in the Cajuns nine-run fourth inning to finish the day 3-for-4, with a single, triple, home run, and five RBI.
Vallie Gaspard had a single in Cajuns fourth, Tankersley added a double scoring two runs, and Godwin also had a single in the inning.
Co-head coach Michael Lotief was pleased with the Cajuns performance on Friday. "I felt like we came out really focused today and executed well at the plate, defensively, and in the pitching circle," said Lotief. "It's just the beginning of the weekend, and we'll have to continue through Sunday with the same focus that we had today."
Verde and Hubbard led the Cajuns offensive attack with three hits each, while Runyan, Tankersley, Godwin, and Chatman each added two hits. Bowers and Gaspard each had one hit on the day.
Kim Schweitzer took the loss for Seton Hall and fell to 0-7 on the year after allowing nine earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and one strikeout in three innings.
UL collected its ninth run rule victory of the season and third straight in as many games. The Ragin' Cajuns have outscored opponents 35-1 in its last three games ? all run rule victories.
Tournament action concludes on Sunday as
