University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Houston
Cajuns Drop Heartbreaker In Extra Frame
2/20/2010 2:23:00 AM | Softball
HOUSTON, Texas - For the second time on the day, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team went to extra innings at the Marriott Invitational. But the outcome was different as the Cajuns fell to Houston, 1-2, in eight innings.
It was the first loss for UL this season, dropping them to 6-1.
The Cajuns struck early in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Melissa Verde led things off with a walk. She would move to third base on a fielder's choice by Christi Orgeron and throwing error on the Cougars. Verde would cross home on single by Lana Bowers through the left side. But the next three Cajuns would go down swinging, stranding two on base.
Houston would tie the game, 1-1, later in the fourth inning. The Cougars' Melissa Gregson was able to get on base with fielder's choice and would eventually advance to third. She would score when Holly Anderson reached first on a contested play after a dropped third strike.
The Cajuns had a chance to score later in the top of the fifth. Britni Soria would single up the middle with Katie Smith on second and Verde on first. Smith was able to round third but was caught at the plate for the inning's final out.
UL would dodge a bullet in the bottom of the sixth inning. Houston was able to draw two walks with two outs. But shortstop Nerissa Myers was able to scoop up a ground ball in the hole to make the play at first for the final out.
In the seventh inning with one out, Verde drew a walk. Jensen Tydelski would come in to pinch run at first base.
Cajuns would hold Houston scoreless in the seventh to head into extra innings.
With the international rule in play, UL started the eighth inning with Bowers on second base. With two outs, Houston intentionally walked Gabriele Bridges. But Erikka Murphy would pop out to short stop to end the inning.
Houston would drop a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. Another sacrifice bunt would plate the Cougars' winning run.
Bourgeois would strike out 10 and allow only one hit in the loss. Both runs by Houston were unearned.
Lana Bowers was 2-for-4 from the plate with UL's lone RBI.
The Cajuns will play two games tomorrow morning at the Marriott Invitational. First up will be No. 20 Texas at 9 a.m. CT. UL will then face UTSA at 11 a.m. CT.
