No. 19 Cajuns Complete Sweep of FIU

MIAMI-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns got back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh inning from Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) and Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) to provide the final margin of victory as the Cajuns completed the three-game sweep of Florida International with a 7-4 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Freshman pitcher Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) earned the start. She worked 5.0 innings before giving way to Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.). Bourgeois scattered six hits in her five innings of work. She held the Golden Panthers scoreless for the first four innings before surrendering four runs in the pivotal fifth inning. Bourgeois struck out just one batter, but induced a dozen ground balls in her outing.

Brignac worked the final two innings of the ball game. She earned the win allowing no hits, while striking out three.

Offensively for the Cajuns, Bowers, Bridges and Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) all posted home runs in the game. Bowers home run broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning and Bridges followed with her third home run of the weekend. It was the first time this season that the Cajuns hit back-to-back homers.

Tankersley continued her stellar play on the season belting her third home run in as many games. The senior leads the team with 14 home runs and is in sole position of second place on the Cajuns career list.

The Cajuns broke the scoreless deadlock in the third inning. Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) singled to the shortstop to give UL a base runner. Tankersley drove the second pitch she saw over the right field fence for her third home run of the weekend. The two-run shot gave the Cajuns a quick 2-0 lead.

Louisiana added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Tankersley led off the inning with a single up the middle. Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game to pinch run for Tankersley and immediately stole second base. She came around to score on an RBI single by Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.), giving the Cajuns a 3-0 edge.

The Golden Panthers used a four-run fifth inning to take a one-run lead. The inning started with back-to-back singles for FIU. A four-pitch walk loaded the bases for the host team. Florida International singled to right field to plate the first runner. The Cajuns mishandled the ball in the outfield allowing the second runner to score and leaving FIU with runners on the corners and no outs. A ground out moved the runner on first into scoring position. A ground out and a single plated two more runners and saw the Cajuns trailing for the first time in the ball game at 4-3.

UL responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Kelly Cormier (Abbeville, La.) led off the inning with a single up the middle. A one-out single by Gaspard gave the Cajuns a pair of base runners for Tankersley. The senior singled off of the wall to move the runners and load the bases. Soto, who leads the team in sacrifice flies, delivered once again in the clutch flying out to left field. The fly ball was deep enough to score Cormier from third and knot the score at four apiece.

The Cajuns broke the 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning with a pair of back-to-back dingers. Bowers homered to centerfield with a runner on and Bridges followed with a solo shot to give the Cajuns a three-run cushion that they would not relinquish.

The Ragin' Cajuns return home to Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park for a single game against McNeese State. First pitch against the Cowgirls is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on SportsRadio ESPN1420 or online at RaginCajuns.com. Live stats for the game will also be available on RaginCajuns.com.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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