University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Texas A&M
No. 18 Cajuns Outlast No. 3 Texas A&M, 2-1
3/8/2008 6:00:00 AM | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns rematch with Texas A&M was once again a pitcher's duel that did not disappoint. The two Top-25 teams battled for eight innings with the No. 18 Ragin' Cajuns (14-4) scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Aggies.
With the international tie-breaker rule in place, the Cajuns started the eighth inning with Karli Hubbard (
The Cajuns received a masterful performance from freshman Ashley Brignac (
Offensively, UL generated just four hits as Aggies' pitcher Rhiannon Kliesing pitched a gem of her own.
Tankersley and Verde were responsible for all four of the Cajuns' hits in the game. Both finished with a pair of hits. Verde doubled in Tankersley in the fourth inning, but delivered the clutch single to left centerfield with the bases juiced to drive in the winning run.
UL received a scare in the top of the fourth inning. A base hit and a walk gave the Aggies a pair of base runners with no outs. Brignac fanned the next batter and the Cajuns ended the inning with a stellar defensive play by right fielder Tankersley. The senior outfielder caught a fly ball and quickly fired a strike to third base in time to gun down the lead runner and end the inning.
The Cajuns were the first to scratch the scoreboard. In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Tankersley delivered an infield single to the shortstop for the Cajuns first hit of the game. Verde followed with an RBI double to left field. UL was unable to move Verde as the next three batters were retired in order.
Texas A&M tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. The Aggies got a pair of one out walks to give them a runner in scoring position. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. A shallow fly ball was deep enough to score the lead runner from third. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte,
The storybook finish was slammed shut for the Aggies in the top of the seventh. With one out, the A&M got a single and a double to put runners on second and third. A fly ball to centerfield recorded the second out, but was shallow enough to hold the runners. All-American Amanda Scarborough pinch hit with two outs and two runners on, but Brignac slammed the door on the Aggies chances with her 11th strikeout of the game.
The Cajuns were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh and kept the Aggies off of the scoreboard in the eighth to pave the way for Verde's dramatic hit.
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team will conclude play in the 2008 Aggie Classic Presented by HoneyBaked Ham and Cafe with a doubleheader against
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