Cajuns Blank Ole Miss in Season Opener

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team opened up the 2009 season with a 7-0 one-hit shutout over the Ole Miss Rebels at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.

The No. 6 Cajuns used a career-best 13 strikeouts from starting pitcher Donna Bourgeois to keep the Rebels off the scoreboard. Bourgeois improved to 9-1 all-time at Lamson Park and lowered her ERA to 0.11 at home.

Bourgeois was nearly perfect in the Cajuns' debut. The Lafayette native fanned a career-high 13 batters on the night without surrendering a walk.

The sophomore hurler faced the minimum allowing just one hit. The lone hit came in the first inning as All-American Lauren Grill hit a line drive off the wall. Grill was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play by left fielder Vallie Gaspard.

The Ragin' Cajuns offense provided more than enough run support for Bourgeois, scoring seven runs on seven hits.

Senior Karli Hubbard led the way for the Cajuns finishing the night 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Senior Codi Runyan, playing in her first game back since missing the entire 2008 season with a back injury, was 1-for-3 at the plate and led the Cajuns with three RBI.

Gaspard registered only one hit, but reached base safely in all three of her plate appearances, scoring twice.

The Cajuns opened the scoring with a three-run first inning. With one out, Hubbard laid down a bunt single for the Cajuns' first base runner of the season. A single through the left side by Lana Bowers gave Louisiana a pair of runners. Melissa Verde drew a base on balls to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Runyan delivered double through the right side to plate the first two runs of the season. Jessica Dupont was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again. With the bases loaded, Vallie Gaspard hit the ball back to the Ole Miss pitcher Lindsey Perry. Ole Miss opted to go for the lead run, but Verde slid home safely under the tag for the third run of the inning. The Cajuns failed to plate any more runners in the inning, but held a 3-0 edge after one complete inning of play.

In the second inning, the Ragin' Cajuns increased their lead to 4-0. A one-out Hubbard walk started things for Louisiana. UL's Bowers was hit by a pitch and the two runners advanced on a wild pitch. With runners on second and third, the Cajuns loaded the bases with Verde's second walk of the game. Runyan drew a base on balls of her own to score Hubbard from third.

The Cajuns plated another run in the bottom of the third inning. Gaspard reached base on a fielding error by the Rebels. She stole her first base of the season to move into scoring position. A single by Hubbard gave the Cajuns runners on the corners. Louisiana successfully executed a double steal to give UL a 5-0 advantage.

In the fifth inning, Louisiana added a pair of runs. Gaspard got the inning started with a single over the third base man's head. Smith laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Gaspard into scoring position. A double off of the centerfield wall by Gabriele Bridges plated Gaspard easily. Bridges came around to score as Bowers lifted ball to deep left field. The center fielder, who was charging towards left field on the play, called off the left fielder that was camped out under the ball, but ultimately could not handle the catch, allowing Bridges to score from second base.

The Cajuns would not score in the bottom of the sixth and Bourgeois secured the 7-0 victory with a pair of strikeouts in the final inning.

The Ragin' Cajuns softball team will continue their three-game series with Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon. First pitch against the Rebels is slated for 2 p.m. at Lamson Park.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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