UL Claims Louisiana Classics Title

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's softball team received a two-hit shutout from pitcher Donna Bourgeois and the UL offense did the rest as the Ragin' Cajuns came away with an 11-0 victory over McNeese State in the final game of the 23rd Annual Louisiana Classics Softball Tournament.

The Cajuns finished the tournament 5-0 and claimed the championship. Six Ragin' Cajuns players were named to the 10-person all-tournament team. Gabriele Bridges, Vallie Gaspard, Karli Hubbard, Katie Smith and Melissa Verde were each named All-Tournament with Bourgeois taking home Most Outstanding Player accolades.

Bourgeois tossed a two-hit shutout in the final game of the tournament. She faced 20 batters, fanning 11. Bourgeois finished the tournament with a 0.32 ERA, four wins and a save in five appearances. She scattered 10 hits in 21.2 innings of work, surrendering just one earned run. Bourgeois fanned 36 batters on the weekend while giving up only four free passes.

With Bourgeois keeping the Cowgirls in check, the Cajuns offense did the rest. Louisiana collected 12 hits on the night, including three home runs and five doubles.

Five different Cajuns had two hits apiece. Codi Runyan, Bridges and Verde all finished with two hits, including a double and a home run. Lana Bowers collected a pair of doubles on the night, while Smith had a pair of infield hits.

Bridges finished the night with three runs scored, while Smith and Bowers each scored two each.

Bowers drove in a team-best three runs, and Verde, Bridges and Runyan each had a pair of RBI each.

The Cajuns needed just two swings of the bat to take an early 2-0 lead. With two outs, Verde hit a home run to straight away center field. Bridges followed with her fourth home run of the tournament.

The back-to-back home runs marked the first time since April 6, 2008 that a pair of Cajuns went back-to-back. In the FIU game, Bowers and Bridges both had consecutive home runs.

UL added a run in the fourth inning. With one out and a runner on, Verde collected her second extra base hit of the game as she double to left center field to plate the base runner.

In the fourth inning, Runyan led off the inning with a solo home run. The home run was her second of the tournament and gave the Cajuns a 4-0 advantage.

Te Cajuns increased their lead to 6-0 with two runs in the sixth inning. The sixth was highlighted by back-to-back-to back doubles by Bridges, Bowers and Runyan.

Louisiana cemented the victory with five runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Cajuns sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh inning with the first seven batters reaching safely.

The Ragin' Cajuns return to action on Friday as they play host to the Fifth Annual Mardi Gras Classic at Lamson Park. The Cajuns welcome UConn, Kentucky and San Diego State to Lafayette.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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