University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Alcorn State
Cajuns Advance to Championship Game
4/6/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
With the victory the Ragin' Cajuns (17-2) move into the championship contest to meet Tennessee-Martin (8-4) at approximately
The Cajuns scored two runs in the first inning off Alcorn pitcher Corina Pendleton and never looked back in avenging Friday's 5-4 loss to the Braves.
Pendleton issued three walks in the first four UL plate appearances to quickly load the bases.
After the third walk ? issued to Lacey Berutcci ? Melissa Verde punched a double through the right side scoring pinch runner Courtney Trahan and Holly Tankersley for a 2-0 lead.
Brittany Cuevas struck out the side in the top of the second inning and the Cajuns bats went right back to work.
The Cajuns' damage in the second frame was all done with two outs and was capped off with a Bertucci grand slam that opened a 6-0 edge.
Vallie Gaspard put down a bunt single with one out and stole second base after Runyan flied out to center field.
Gaspard would be joined on the basepath by Karli Hubbard and Tankersley who each drew walks to load the bases for Bertucci's at bat. Bertucci skied a ball that landed just beyond the left field fence clearing the bases.
Alcorn made a switch in the pitcher's circle bringing in Tynetta Sims who managed to keep the Cajun off-balance in the third and fourth innings.
Shari Sigur entered the pitcher's circle for UL with one out in the top of the third inning and pitched the rest of the game holding the Braves off the scoreboard.
The first scoring threat that Alcorn had came in the fifth inning, but it was erased by a spectacular diving catch by Bertucci which resulted in an inning-ending double play.
The Braves had runners on second and third base with one out when Heather Pecore hit a liner to the right side. Bertucci leaned over and snagged the liner and then flipped to Runyan at second base for the final out.
The Cajuns tacked on one more run in the fifth inning when Runyan lifted a sacrifice fly into center field scoring Meagan Godwin who started the bottom of the fifth inning with a single into left field.
A two-out walk and single gave
Sigur then induced a fly ball out to right field off the bat of Rebecca Mason to keep the Cajuns lead at 7-0.
The bottom of the sixth inning didn't last very long ? in fact it lasted only two plate appearances.
Tankersley was walked for the third time in the game. She was then plated with the game-ending run on a Bertucci double down the left field line which made the score 8-0.
Bertucci paced the Ragin' Cajuns with five RBI. Tankersley led the charge with three runs scored.
Sigur collected the victory for UL ? the first of her career. Cuevas wasn't eligible for the victory as she only pitched 2 1/3 innings.
