University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Tennessee-Martin
Cajuns Dispatch Tennessee-Martin
4/6/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
After three scoreless innings the Ragin' Cajuns (16-2) strung together five runs over the final four innings in a 5-0 win over Tennessee-Martin to wrap up round robin play with a 3-1 record.
Brittany Cuevas struck out nine UTM batters and held the Skyhawks to only three hits over seven innings for her second shutout of the tournament.
Freshman Vallie Gaspard had a banner day at the plate. She managed to reach base in all five plate appearances including a 3-for-3 showing in the UTM contest.
No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette will conclude play in the Northwestern State Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 25 in the single-elimination bracket play round. UL will meet
With the threat of rain showers the Cajuns meeting with Tennessee-Martin was moved up to
Cuevas and UTM starting pitcher Kara Harper kept the opposing lineups off the scoreboard through the first three innings.
The Ragin' Cajuns stranded runners in scoring position in the second and third innings. UL had the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, but Tankersley lined into a double play to end the threat.
The Ragin' Cajuns then went two-out magic to score runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
In the fourth inning Godwin singled through the left side and stole second base to move into scoring position. Chatman then singled into shallow right field allowing Godwin to score what proved to be the winning run.
Gaspard started the fifth inning with a bunt single down the first base line. Between two outs she stole second to move into scoring position. With two outs, Tankersley rifled a grounder under the reach of UTM shortstop Stacey Weaver to score Gaspard upping the advantage to 2-0.
Three straight singles with two outs in the sixth inning pushed across another run for Louisiana-Lafayette. Chatman and Bowers had the first two hits then Gaspard followed by slapping a single straight up the middle of the infield scoring Chatman for a 3-0 lead.
In the seventh inning the Cajuns received back-to-back, two-out doubles. Verde doubled to left field then Godwin doubled to right field to score pinch runner Shari Sigur making it 4-0.
Tara Hamilton then followed with a single just inside the foul line in deep right field to score Godwin for a 5-0 edge.
Cuevas retired the Skyhawks in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. She ended the game retiring the final seven batters that she faced.
Cuveas improved to 10-0 with the victory. She lowered her ERA to 0.92 and collected her third shutout of the season.
The Ragin' Cajuns pounded out 12 base hits for the second straight game. Gaspard led the charge with three hits and she was followed up by Chatman, Godwin and Verde who each had two hits.
