Missed Opportunities Cost Cajuns

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Louisiana' Ragin' Cajuns dropped their first Sun Belt Conference series of the season as they fell 3-2 to Western Kentucky in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Both teams scored in the first inning and then pitching and defense took over leaving the score 3-2 for the remainder of the seven-inning contest.

Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) took the hard luck loss for the Cajuns. After surrendering three runs in the first inning, Brignac kept the Hilltoppers off of the scoreboard for the next 5.0 innings. She recorded 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits and walking just three. Two of Brignac's four hits allowed came in the costly first inning.

The Cajuns were led offensively by junior Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) and senior Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas). Hubbard finished the day 4-for-4, while Tankersley was 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.

The Cajuns wasted little time scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Tankersley singled to the shortstop to start things off for UL. Hubbard followed with an infield single of her own. A fielder's choice left the Cajuns with runners at the corners. A fielder's choice scored Tankersley from third and left the Cajuns with runners on first and second. Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) dropped a Texas League single into right field to score Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) from second.

Western Kentucky answered in the bottom half of the first inning. A leadoff double put a runner in scoring position and a wild pitch moved the runner to within 60-feet of home. Brignac struck out the next batter, but the ball was over Bowers head allowing the runner to score from third and the batter to reach base safely. An errant throw by the Cajuns allowed the runner to advance to second, but it wouldn't matter as Lindsay Antone hit a two-run home run to give Western Kentucky the lead at 3-2. Brignac struck out three of the next four batters to end the inning and stop the Hilltopper's charge.

Following the Cajuns' two-run first inning, the Cajuns squandered numerous opportunities throughout the game.

In the second inning, Louisiana received back-to-back singles by Tankersley and Hubbard to give the Cajuns a pair or runners with one out. A ground out moved both runners into scoring position, but a fly ball ended the inning before any runs could score.

Tankersley and Hubbard both reached base again in the fourth inning. With two outs, Tankersley walked and moved to second on a Hubbard single, but a fielder's choice ended the inning.

Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) led off the fifth inning with a triple to right centerfield. Back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out left the potential tying run stranded just 60-feet away from home.

The Cajuns worked their way out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth inning. UL surrendered a leadoff walk to start the inning. The Cajuns went to second base on a ground ball, but dropped the ball allowing both runners to reach safely. Three consecutive fielder's choices retired the Toppers with no harm done.

For the second consecutive inning, Tankersley and Hubbard reached with two outs. Once again, Tankersley drew a four-pitch walk and Hubbard added an infield single. And once again, the Cajuns were unable to score as a fly ball ended the inning.

The Ragin' Cajuns have the weekend off, but will resume play at the friendly confines of Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park on Tuesday, April 1, against Grambling. The Cajuns and the Tigers will square off in a doubleheader with the first pitch slated for 5:00 p.m.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

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