University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Middle Tennessee
Cajuns Sweep Behind Orgeron's Nine RBI
4/16/2011 10:30:00 PM | Softball
The 18th ranked Ragin' Cajuns put together two complete games as they swept a doubleheader from Middle Tennessee at Lamson Park by final scores of 11-0 and 9-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The two wins moved the Cajuns to 19-1 at Lamson Park on the year and pushed the Blue Raiders down to 1-13 on the road.
The Cajuns (35-6, 12-2) pitching staff combined for nine shutout innings before Middle Tennessee (14-26, 5-12) scratched across a run in the second game.
The UL offense was led by Christi Orgeron on the day who posted nine RBI, including two home runs, one a grand slam. UL leadoff batter Nerissa Myers and the bottom of the Cajuns' lineup set the table for Orgeron all day. In fact, Myers reached base in six of seven plate appearances.
GAME ONE - Louisiana 11, Middle Tennessee 0 (5 innings)
The Cajuns used some early offense while Orgeron drove in six runs in an 11-0, five-inning win over the Blue Raiders.
Ashley Brignac (20-3) and Shelbee Rodgers combined to throw the Cajuns 15th shutout of the season. Brignac struck out six while giving up two hits in three innings, picking up the win. Rodgers threw one-hit softball over the last two innings to close out Middle Tennessee.
At the plate, four different Cajuns posted two hits while UL pounded out 11 as a team.
The Cajuns struck first with a single score in the first inning. Nerissa Myers drew a leadoff walk and scored from first on an RBI double by Orgeron.
UL would extend its lead to 3-0 with two runs in the second inning. Natalie Fernandez reached on an error and stole second to lead off the inning. She moved to third on a Katie Smith single and scored on a Myers RBI single. Smith, who stole second, moved to third on Myers' single and scored on an RBI groundout by Orgeron.
The Cajuns broke things open in the third inning, plating eight runs on six hits, sending nine hitters to the plate and extending their lead to 11-0. Brianna Cherry led off with a walk and moved to third when Sarah Draheim reached on an error.
The next five Cajuns delivered singles to plate four runs and set the stage for Orgeron. The USA Softball Player of the Year finalist stepped up with no one out and the bases loaded. She proceeded to hit the Lamson Park scoreboard with her second grand slam of the season.
The four-bagger was the 16th of the season for Orgeron and moved her NCAA-leading RBI total to 66. The grand slam gave the Cajuns the 11-0 lead that they would finish the game with.
Caty Jutson (3-8) was tagged with the loss for Middle Tennessee after giving up nine runs in two innings.
GAME TWO - Louisiana 9, Middle Tennessee 1 (6 innings)
The Cajuns once again stepped on the gas early, scoring seven runs in the first three innings in a 9-1 win in six innings.
Brignac (21-3) threw four more shutout innings, picking up the win, with six strikeouts and no walks. Christina Hamilton came on the throw the final two innings, giving up one run on one hit with no walks.
At the plate, three different Cajuns posted two hits while Orgeron posted three more RBI to bring her season total to 69. Orgeron, as well as Gabriele Bridges, homered in the game as UL posted 10 hits and the Blue Raiders posted six.
The Cajuns would once again jump out early as they plated three runs in the first inning. Myers, for the second straight game, led off the first with a walk. She was driven in when Orgeron hit her second home run of the day, moving her one ahead of Bridges for the team lead with 17.
However, that stat was short-lived as Bridges made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot that moved her season total to 17 as well and gave UL at 3-0 lead.
UL would extend the lead to 5-0 with two scores in the second inning. Katie Smith and Myers led off with a walk and a hit by pitch, then move into scoring position on a Blue Raider throwing error. The two would score on a two-out RBI single by Cormier.
The Cajuns would tack on two more runs in the third inning. Megan Granger reached on an error and Erikka Murphy singled to lead off the inning. An RBI fielder's choice by Orgeron and an RBI single Bridges scored both to extend the lead to 7-0.
Middle Tennessee would plate their first run of the day in the fourth inning when Nina Davenport reached on a catcher's interference call and stole second. Natalie Ysais plated Davenport with an RBI single up the middle to cut UL's lead to 7-1.
Janele Robinson (3-9) settled down and retired nine straight Cajuns before UL closed out the game in the sixth inning. Cormier walked with two outs and was followed by Draheim who hit a double to put both in scoring position. Both scored on a Granger RBI single to give UL the 9-1 win.
The Cajuns and Blue Raiders will conclude their series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. and the game will air on the Sun Belt Network.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
