COLUMBUS, Ga.-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team closed out the 2008 NFCA Leadoff Classic on a sour note. The Cajuns (10-3) were no match for No. 12 Michigan's big bats and fell by a final score of 9-0.
The Cajuns had one uncharacteristic inning in the circle, which proved to be the difference in the game. UL surrendered a pair of home runs, including a grand slam and issued three walks. The walks proved costly, as two of the three runners came around to score.
On the day, the UL pitching staff fanned eight batters on the day, while allowing just three walks ? all in the crucial third inning.
Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.), Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas) and Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) all threw in the game. All three pitchers recorded at least one strikeout, led by Cuevas who struck out six on the day.
The Cajuns mustered just a pair of hits on the day. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) and Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) both singled in the contest. Tankersley was erased on a double play, while Smith advanced all the way to third base before being left stranded.
Michigan was the first team to score in the contest. Tied 0-0 in the top of the second, Dorian Shaw hit a solo home run down the left field line that was just fair to give the Wolverines a 1-0 advantage.
The Wolverines took a commanding lead in the top of the third inning. Brignac began the inning with a pair of walks and an error loaded the bases. Michigan's Samantha Findlay belted a grand slam to extend the Wolverine lead to 5-0. The very next batter, Maggie Viefhaus went deep to push the lead to 6-0.
The Cajuns brought in Cuevas to halt the Michigan offensive attack. Cuevas struck out one batter and induced a fly ball to escape the inning with no further damage.
The devastating third inning marked the first time in the 2008 season that a team batted around against the Cajuns.
Louisiana threatened in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Smith worked the count in her favor and drew a free pass. To that point, Smith was only the second Cajuns' base runner. She stole second and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Smith was left stranded as Michigan end the inning with a strikeout.
The Cajuns were once again a victim of bad luck in the fifth inning. Michigan led off the inning with a hit into left field. The ball dropped just out of reach of a diving Smith. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) picked up the ball and fired it to second baseman Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) for what appeared to be an out, but the runner was ruled safe with a lead off double. The runner came into score on a two-out single, but Cuevas closed out the inning with a strikeout.
Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth inning. She advanced to second base on a failed pick-off attempt. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning, leaving Brodhead stranded.
Michigan added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to increase their lead to 9-0
The Ragin' Cajuns return home on Tuesday, March 4, to take on Nicholls State in a double-header at the Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park. First pitch in game one is slated for 4:00 p.m.
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