Cajuns Exact Revenge On ULM

DENTON, Texas-After falling in the first game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to ULM, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team eliminated the Warhawks with a six-inning 9-1 run-rule victory.

The Ragin' Cajuns pounded out 12 hits en route to nine runs to secure the mercy-rule win. Louisiana boasted four extra base hits in the game, including three doubles and a triple.

Offensively, four Cajuns players had multiple hits led by Vallie Gaspard who finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Karli Hubbard, Christi Orgeron and Codi Runyan each collected two hits apiece. Runyan finished the game 2-for-4 with a team-best four RBI.

Kelly Cormier and Gabriele Bridges each had a hit apiece with Cormier connecting on an RBI triple and Bridges finishing with a double and three RBI.

Brittany Cuevas was solid in the circle as she collected her seventh victory of the season. Cuevas tossed the complete game allowing just one run on five hits. She tied a career high with 12 strikeouts, while surrendering only two walks.

ULM was the first to score as they plated a run in the first inning. Brianna Love hit a ball to right field that the wind carried just out of reach for a lead off triple. Cuevas struck out the next batter, but Love came across to score on the next batter on a squeeze attempt. Cuevas struck out the next batter and got the final batter of the inning to watch strike three split the plate in two.

With the Cajuns trailing 1-0 after a half an inning of play, Louisiana took the lead in the bottom of the inning as they scored seven runs on seven hits to take a 7-1 lead after one inning of play. Gaspard got things going for the Cajuns with a double to left field. Hubbard followed with a single to left field and advanced to second on the throw back to the infield to give UL a pair of base runners in scoring position. Melissa Verde walked to load the bases. Runyan followed with a two RBI single to left center field and she advanced into scoring position on a throwing error by ULM. Orgeron continued the inning for the Cajuns. Orgeron hit a ball that was foul, but the gusting wind that was blowing towards right field pushed the ball fair, giving the freshman an infield single to load the bases. Bridges cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left center field. With a runner on second and one out, Cormier tripled to right center field to plate Bridges from second. With two outs, Gaspard collected her second hit of the inning driving in Cormier from third and giving UL a 7-1 advantage.

Neither team could muster a run in the middle innings, but the Cajuns claimed the run-rule victory with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gaspard and Hubbard collected back-to-back singles to give UL base runners. Runyan connected on a two-RBI double off of the center field wall to plate the runners and secure the victory.

The Ragin' Cajuns will play FIU in the next round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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