University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
FIU
Cajuns Split Sun Belt Doubleheader
4/7/2011 2:30:00 AM | Softball
The 19th ranked Ragin' Cajuns split a Sun Belt doubleheader at home on Wednesday, taking game one from FIU, 7-2, before falling, 3-2, in game two.
The game two loss was the first of season at home for the Cajuns who are now 15-1 inside Lamson Park this year. Ashley Brignac started both games for the Cajuns (28-6, 6-2) while Shelbee Rodgers threw a combined six innings of scoreless softball in the two contests.
Two Cajuns tied single game records in game one as Katie Smith swiped four bases and Christi Orgeron recorded two triples against the Panthers (22-17, 8-3).
GAME ONE - Louisiana 7, FIU 2
The Cajuns took control early with six runs in the first two innings as they rolled to a 7-2 win in game one.
Katie Smith was 1-for-3 in the game, but tied a school record with four stolen bases. The feat marked the fourth time a Cajun stole four bases in a game, but the first time since Myra Mouton in 1989.
Christi Orgeron went 3-for-4 at the plate with two triples, tying a school record, and a double. Orgeron and Draheim each posted three RBI for the Cajuns.
Ashley Brignac (15-2) threw six innings for the Cajuns, striking out five while giving up just one, unearned run on three hits. Christina Hamilton faced three batters in the fourth inning and gave up one, unearned run of her own. Shelbee Rodgers also threw one inning for the Cajuns, giving up one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.
The Cajuns would waste no time getting up on the Panthers, as they plated two runs in the first inning. Nerissa Myers was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and then stole second base with one out. With the speedy shortstop standing in scoring position, Orgeron delivered an RBI triple over Ashley McClain's head in right field to plate Myers.
Sarah Draheim would then deliver an RBI double off of the right field wall to score Orgeron and give UL a 2-0 lead.
FIU would get one run back in the second inning. After Brie Rojas reached on an error to lead off the inning, she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Jenny Welch RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1.
UL would tack on four more runs in the second inning, thanks in large part to Orgeron and Draheim yet again. Smith led off with a walk and stole her first base of the game, and after two batters were retired, Gabriele Bridges drew her 36th walk of the season. She and Smith scored on Orgeron's second triple in as many innings. This one again turned around the Panther right fielder McClain and found its way over her head.
Paige Cormier then drew the third walk of inning. She later scored, along with Orgeron, on an RBI single from Draheim to give UL a 6-1 lead.
The Cajuns tacked on a single run in the third inning without the benefit of a hit, however, they did steal five bases in the inning. Smith drew a one out walk, then went on the steal for the cycle, as she swiped second, third and home to put the Cajuns up 7-1. The steal of home came as the back end of a double steal with Myers.
With a six run lead in the fourth inning, Christina Hamilton came on the pitch for the Cajuns after a month hiatus from the circle. The freshman ran into some trouble as FIU loaded the bases with no outs and Brignac re-entered for UL. The junior limited the damage to one run on an RBI ground out as FIU pulled to within five at 7-2.
Jenn Gniadek (9-9) went the distance for FIU, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits and eight walks.
GAME TWO - FIU 3, Louisiana 2
The Cajuns fell behind early, giving up three runs in the first two innings in a 3-2 loss in game two. Rodgers came on pitch the final five innings, throwing scoreless softball throughout, keeping the Cajuns in the game.
Draheim and Cherry each posted two hits for the Cajuns who had eight hits as a team and stranded nine runners.
This time, the Panthers got on the board first with a single score in first inning. A single sandwiched between two walks loaded the bases for FIU with one out, allowing Welch to deliver a sacrifice fly.
FIU would tack on two more runs in the second inning, starting with Rachel Slowik's solo home run. A single, stolen base then RBI single by Kayla Burri gave FIU their second run of the inning and a 3-0 lead.
Rodgers came on to pitch for Brignac, retiring the Panthers in order in the top half of the third inning. Brignac (15-3) threw two innings, giving up three runs on five hits with one strikeout while being shouldered with the loss.
For the fourth consecutive inning, the Cajuns got their leadoff batter on, this time thanks to a Draheim fourth inning single. Draheim would then advance to third with nobody out when Brianna Cherry delivered a double to the right center gap.
The next two batters were retired, but Erikka Murphy drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. However, the Cajuns were unable to scratch across a run as a Myers line drive found its way into Jessy Alfonso's glove at third base, leaving the bases loaded and with UL still trailing 3-0.
FIU would load the bases themselves in the fifth, but just as the Cajuns did in the previous, failed to score and the Panthers remained on top 3-0.
After stranding seven runners in the first four innings, the Cajuns finally broke through in the fifth inning, plating two runs to make the score 3-2. Everything started with two outs when Cormier drew a walk and was followed by a Draheim single.
A Cherry RBI single through the left side then scored Cormier and a Megan Granger RBI single through the right side scored Draheim. The Cajuns attempted a double steal to tie the game up, but Cherry was caught stealing at home to end the inning.
Mariah Dawson (8-5) went the distance for FIU, giving up eight hits and two runs with one strikeout and five walks.
The Cajuns and Panthers will conclude their series on Thursday evening with a single game. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. at Lamson Park. After that contest, the Cajuns hit the road for a three-game set at South Alabama on Saturday and Sunday.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
