LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns saw their 23-game home winning streak snapped in the first game of a doubleheader with in-state rival and Sun Belt Conference foe ULM as they dropped a 1-0 decision. The Cajuns rebounded with nine runs in game two to claim a 9-1 mercy-rule victory over the Warhawks to tie the series at 1-1.
The Cajuns improved to 41-12 overall and 18-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, while ULM dropped to 19-35 and 9-14 in the SBC.
The Cajuns offense left 10 runners stranded in game one, including six runners in scoring position as they were shutout for the fifth time this season. In game two however, the Cajuns rattled off eight hits, including two doubles and a home run. They scored nine runs in five innings for their 17th mercy-rule victory of the year.
Offensively, every starter on the Cajuns' team had at least one hit in the doubleheader. The Cajuns were led by Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas). The sophomore finished the day 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI.
In the circle, the Cajuns pitching staff combined for 12.0 innings, allowing just two runs ? one earned run ? on seven hits. UL struck out 23 batters on the day compared to just one walk allowed.
GAME ONE RECAP
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team dropped their first home game of the season as ULM squeaked out a 1-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader. The Cajuns left 10 runners on base including six in scoring position.
The loss overshadowed a dominant pitching performance by Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette. La.). The freshman tossed a complete game 7.0 innings. She scattered four hits, surrendering just one run. Bourgeois did not issue a walk and struck out a career-high 12 batters.
Offensively, Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) and Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) both had a pair of hits. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) also reached base twice as she drew a pair of free passes.
The Cajuns threatened in the first inning. Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) and Hubbard led off the game with back-to-back bunt singles. A deep fly ball advanced the runners into scoring position and a four-pitch walk to Tankersley loaded the bases. A strikeout and a fly ball ended the inning and the Cajuns' threat.
The second inning was almost a repeat of the first inning for the Cajuns. Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) led off the inning with a walk and was run for by Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.). Trahan stole second base and moved to third on a Smith single. A line drive to third base recorded the first out of the inning and the ULM third baseman quickly tagged out Trahan for the inning-ending double play.
The Warhawks were the first team to generate a run. After a strikeout to begin the inning, ULM doubled off of the wall in left field for their first base runner of the game. A ground ball moved the runner to third and a single down the left field line gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
Louisiana missed another opportunity in the bottom of the fifth. Smith singled to second base and moved to second on a Gaspard walk. A ground out moved both runners into scoring position. Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) hit a ball to second base, but the ULM fielder threw home to retire the Smith at home. With runners on the corners, Tankersley was hit a pitch to load the bases. A fielder's choice at third base ended the inning for the Cajuns.
The Cajuns left a runner on base in both the sixth and the seventh inning stranding a total of 10 for the game.
GAME TWO RECAP
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns bounced back from a 1-0 defeat in game one with a 9-1 mercy-rule victory in game two of a doubleheader with ULM. The Cajuns scored three runs in three separate innings to improve to 41-12 overall and 21-1 at home.
Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) picked up her team-leading 24th win of the season. She worked 5.0 innings allowing just one unearned run on three hits. Brignac fanned 11 batters in the game, marking the 14th time this season she has recorded double-digit strikeouts.
Offensively, the Cajuns' received two-hit performances from Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) and Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.). Verde collected what would prove to be the game-winning hit in the first inning as she lifted a pitch over the centerfield wall. The home run was the third of the season for Verde and gave the Cajuns a 3-0 lead which they would not relinquish. Bridges collected a pair of hits including the game-clinching RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Verde and Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) both had multiple RBI in the game, while Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) was the only Cajun to score multiple runs.
Louisiana wasted little time in game two of jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead. Gaspard walked and stole second to move into scoring position. With one out, Soto hit her team-leading 19th double of the season to plate Gaspard from second. With a runner on second and two outs, Verde hit her first home run since Feb. 22 at Lamson Park against Mississippi Valley State to give the Cajuns a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Cajuns added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Gaspard led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) reached base on a fielding error by the Warhawks. Both runners advanced into scoring position as the ball got away from the ULM first baseman. An RBI groundout by Soto plated the first run of the inning. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) followed with an RBI double that dropped in just between the left fielder and the third baseman. A groundout moved Tankersley to third and a wild pitch scored the senior for the third and final run of the inning.
The Ragin' Cajuns sealed the victory with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Verde singled to right centerfield. She was pinch ran for by Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.). A single by Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) moved Trahan to second base. An error by ULM plated Trahan from second base and moved Bowers to third. Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.), who reached on the error, stole second base to move into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Bowers to cross the plate and move Brodhead to third. Bridges followed with a single up the middle to score Brodhead and complete the mercy-rule at 9-1.
The Cajuns and Warhawks will complete the series with a single game on Sunday afternoon beginning at 12:00 p.m. The game will be televised on My KLAF in the Acadiana area. The Cajuns' three seniors will be honored before the game.
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