COLUMBUS, Ga.-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team suffered their first loss of the season, dropping a 3-1 decision to Nebraska in the 2008 NFCA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.
The Cajuns fall to 9-1 on the season, while the Cornhuskers improve to 3-6.
Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) took the loss for the Cajuns. The freshman worked four innings, scattering six hits and fanning a half a dozen batters. Bourgeois was responsible for all three runs.
She gave way to Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas). The sophomore worked the final three innings, allowing no runs, while striking out four batters with no walks.
UL's only run cam came in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) belted her second home run of the tournament ? a solo shot to right field. Tankersley finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
For the tournament, Tankersley is 5-for-7 with a pair of home runs, three runs scored and six runs batted in.
Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) was the only Cajuns player with multiple hits. The freshman finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and a single.
The Cornhuskers were the first team to score. Nebraska managed to get runners on second and third with one out. A ground ball to third base was fielded by Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) who quickly threw the ball home to retire the lead runner. With runners on the corners, the Husker at first base broke towards second base to draw a throw, and when she was caught in a run down, the lead runner advanced home for the first run of the game. The run was the first allowed by Bourgeois this season.
UL responded in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Tankersley blasted her second home run of the day, fifth of the season and 54th of her career. Tankersley lifted the first pitch she saw over the right field fence to knot the score at 1-1.
Nebraska regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out double gave the Cornhuskers a runner in scoring position and a wild pitch moved the runner to third. The next batter grounded out to Bourgeois, but before the throw over to first, Bourgeois looked back the runner at third to save the run. The Cajuns were not as lucky with the next batter. Nebraska used a two-out single to left field to plate the runner and take a 2-1 lead.
The Huskers added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Nebraska used a pair of doubles to score a run and increase their lead to 3-1.
The Cajuns failed to plate any runners in the final innings, despite several base runners.
The Ragin' Cajuns continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday as they play a pair of games. The Cajuns start the day off with Tennessee Tech at 3:00 p.m., before taking on Iowa at 5:30 p.m.
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