University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Alabama
Cajuns Claim Series, Sweep Jags
4/9/2011 11:30:00 PM | Softball
The 19th ranked Ragin' Cajuns took advantage of 19 South Alabama walks and pounded out 19 hits to sweep a Saturday doubleheader at Jaguar Field to take control of a Sun Belt series.
The Cajuns (31-6, 9-2) took game one by a score of 5-1 and scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to win game two 13-2. The two wins clinch the Cajuns fourth straight Sun Belt series to open the season and move UL to 10-3 all-time against the Jags (27-10, 7-5).
The wins move UL to 5-1 on the road this season.
GAME ONE - Louisiana 5, South Alabama 1
The Cajuns would take advantage of their opportunities in a 5-1 win over the Jags in game one. UL would draw seven walks and score four of their five runs with two outs as they became the first team in the Sun Belt with 30 wins in 2011.
Ashley Brignac (17-3) would go the distance for the Cajuns giving up one unearned run on five hits with seven strikeouts and just two walks.
Hannah Campbell (12-4) in comparison would walk seven and strike out just two as she was shouldered with the loss.
At the plate for the Cajuns, Paige Cormier went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while five other Cajuns posted one hit. Gabriele Bridges and Christi Orgeron drew a combined three walks and scored a combined three runs.
The Ragin' Cajuns scratched across one run in the second inning thanks to a couple of two-out base hits. Cormier got the first on a single to left centerfield. Megan Granger stood in next, and with a full count allowing Cormier to run on the pitch, a bloop single to right field scored Cormier, who slid in under the tag of USA catcher Katy Neal.
The Jaguars would even things up with one unearned run in the fourth inning. Christin Crocker got things started with a one-out double and moved over to third when Carolina Mendoza reached on a Cajun error. A fielder's choice groundout by Neal allowed Crocker to score the tying run while Mendoza was retired at second base.
UL would once again make everything happen with two outs in fifth inning, scoring three runs, all after two were retired. Orgeron and Bridges each drew two-out walks to set the table for Sarah Draheim. The sophomore catcher delivered a one-RBI single up the middle to score Orgeron and a throwing error on the Jags allowed Bridges to score as well and sent Draheim to second base.
Cormier also delivered a two-out RBI single, this one plating the Cajuns' third run of the inning in the form of Draheim, and giving UL a 4-1 lead after four and a half innings played.
Bridges would tack on the Cajuns final run in the seventh inning thanks to a lead-off home run over the left field fence. The solo shot was the 16th long ball of the season for Bridges, who led the Sun Belt a season ago with 17.
GAME TWO - Louisiana 13, South Alabama 2
UL broke open a close game with 10 runs in the seventh inning to take game two by a score of 13-2 over South Alabama.
USA starter Morgan Druhan (8-5) was wild on the day, walking 12 with one hit batter. However, the Jags were still in the game entering the seventh as the Cajuns stranded 11 runners through the first six innings.
In the seventh inning, the Cajuns would plate 10 runs thanks to eight hits and two walks, sending 14 hitters to the plate. The big inning was highlighted by a Katie Smith double, an RBI single by Erikka Murphy, a two-RBI single by Myers, a two-run home run by Orgeron and a three-RBI double by Cormier.
Druhan was chased after being charged with 12 earned runs in 6.1 innings and gave way to Lindsey Croft who gave up the final run in 0.2 innings.
Christina Hamilton (7-1) got her first start in over a month for the Cajuns, giving up two runs on five hits in six innings. Shelbee Rodgers and Brignac would combine to pitch the sixth inning and Hamilton reentered to pitch the seventh inning.
At the plate, Myers and Smith each had three hits while Myers scored three runs.
The Cajuns greeted Druhan rudely, plating one run in the top half of the first inning. Nerissa Myers led off the game with a triple to the right center gap and scored on a Druhan wild pitch.
Druhan would walk the next two batters in Orgeron and Bridges, but a double play would allow her to escape with no further damage and the Cajuns ahead 1-0.
The Cajuns would add their second run in the fifth inning with Orgeron leading off with a walk and moving to third on a Bridges single up the middle. Natalie Fernandez would come on the run for Orgeron at third base and score on a Draheim sacrifice fly to give UL a 2-0 lead.
Hamilton cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one base runner, but the Jags plated one in the fifth inning to get within one at 2-1. A Haley Richards single was followed by a Meghan Collins double with two outs to get both into scoring position. A walk to the number nine batter, Mendoza loaded the bases, and a single by Jenny Stevens plated Richards to get USA within one.
The Cajuns would get the run back in the sixth inning to make the score 3-1. Myers reached on a one-out single and was moved to second on a walk to Jennifer Martin. Myers would then score when Druhan threw two wild pitches in Draheim's at bat.
South Alabama would cut the lead back down to one when Brittany Fowler hit her seventh home run of the season to lead off the sixth inning. The solo shot also chased Hamilton who gave way to Shelbee Rodgers after throwing five innings in her first start since returning from injury.
Rodgers would give up two infield hits and retire two batters before giving way to Brignac with runners on first and second. Brignac got Collins, who was 2-for-2, to pop up to end the threat and leave the Cajuns with a 3-2 lead, setting the table for the big seventh inning.
The Cajuns and Jags will conclude their series with a single game on Sunday at Jaguar Field. First pitch is set for 12:00 noon.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
