University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Middle Tennessee
Bowers Powers Cajuns Past Blue Raiders
4/7/2010 12:38:00 AM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Lana Bowers hit a game-winning solo home run to lift Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team to a 2-1 win in extra innings over Middle Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon. The Cajuns ended up splitting with the Blue Raiders on the afternoon after falling, 4-1, in the first game of the day.
Bowers proved vital for the Cajuns in game two. The senior catcher was a perfect 4-for-4 from the batter's box with two solo home runs, a double and a single.
The Cajuns are now 22-12 on the year and a 4-1 record in the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders have a mark of 13-16 overall and 4-7 in the league.
GAME ONE
Through four innings, UL had a tough time doing anything offensively. Lindsey Vander Lugt allowed no hits, struck out three and was responsible for the only two Cajuns that reached base. Kelly Cormier drew a walk and Erikka Murphy was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning.
Middle Tennessee tried to grab some momentum in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back base hits and a hit batsman would load the bags for the Blue Raiders with just one out. A fielder's choice would allow one run to score while Nerissa Myers was able to make the second out at third. A ground out to third base would end the threat with Middle Tennessee holding a 1-0 advantage.
A solo home run by Jessica Ives to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning increased the Blue Raiders' margin, 2-0.
Ashley Ray finally recorded the Cajuns' first hit in the top of the fifth. She moved over to third after a throwing error by Vander Lugt allowed Kelly Cormier to reach first. Cormier tried to take second after the errant throw but was thrown out for the inning's second out at second base. A ground-out ended the inning before Ray could cut into Middle Tennessee's lead.
A two-run homer by Natalie Ysais in the fifth stretched the Blue Raiders lead out to 4-0 in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the sixth, the Cajuns finally were able to post some runs on the scoreboard.
After back-to-back singles, by Murphy and Melissa Verde, Christi Orgeron hit a RBI-single of her own to score Murphy. But UL's threat would end there, still trailing 4-1.
UL had the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh. But with two outs, a fly ball to centerfield would closeout the game.
Brittany Cuevas fell to a record of 11-5 with the loss. In six innings of work, she allowed nine hits and four earned runs while striking out four and walking three.
Vander Lugt improved to 12-9 after striking out six Cajuns in seven innings. UL managed five hits on the afternoon off the lefty.
GAME TWO
The Cajuns were the first to strike in the second inning of game two after Lana Bowers' solo home run put the Cajuns up 1-0. It was the senior's fourth homer of the season.
Neither team was able to make much headway until Middle Tennessee was able to get things going in the bottom of the fifth. A base hit, a fielder's choice and a RBI-ground out allowed the Blue Raiders to knot the score, 1-1.
UL would post four more hits, including a double and a single by Bowers, over the next four innings. But each base hit for the Cajuns came with two outs on the board.
Vallie Gaspard and Murphy followed the two-out trend, hitting back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh. But both runners were left stranded after a pop fly closed out the inning.
The Blue Raiders were able to get on base following a one-out base hit in the bottom of the frame by Caitlin McLure. A walk put McClure in scoring position at second. She moved to third after a wild pitch. But the Cajuns' defense posted the final two outs to send the game into extra innings.
Bowers busted up the stalemate for the Cajuns' again in the extra frame, blasting her second home run of the game over the centerfield wall.
Middle Tennessee would led off the bottom of the frame with a single. But after grounding into a double, Donna Bourgeois fanned the last batter to close out the win.
Bowers accounted for four of the Cajuns' eight hits on the afternoon. Murphy and Gaspard joined her with two hits each.
Bourgeois (11-7, 3-0) pitched effectively through all eight innings. She allowed just one run, four hits and struck out eight Blue Raiders.
The Cajuns and the Blue Raiders will wrap-up the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT.
