Cajuns Split Double Header at Troy on Saturday

Contact: Cory Weigel

Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two

TROY, La. -- The Ragin' Cajuns' softball team dropped its first contest of the year in a 9-4 decision to conference foe Troy, but responded to take the second game of the twin bill, 9-1 in five innings on Saturday at the Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.

Ashley Brignac (11-1) started game one for No. 8 UL (29-1, 4-1) and suffered her first loss of the season after throwing a complete game, while allowing 11 hits and nine runs, eight of which were earned.

Jordan Wallace (15-0) improved on her perfect record by going the distance for the ninth time of the year in game two, while surrendering just two hits, a run and struck out six Troy (20-8, 2-3) batters.

Nerissa Myers blasted her sixth homerun of the season in a 4-for-8 effort and had four RBI. Brianna Cherry had a solid double header going 4-for-7, which included her third homerun of the year and drove in two runs. Christi Orgeron was the third Cajuns' hitter to record four hits on the afternoon and tallied two RBI, increasing her total to a nation-leading 57.

“I love the way our girls just keep fighting and competing,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “Our goal is not to be perfect or undefeated; it is to keep working and getting better and when and if we fall, to get up and continue to fight.

“And we don't blame each other nor point the finger. We all are in this together, pitch by pitch regardless of the outcome.”

Game One

The Cajuns began the game with three straight hits to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off Troy's freshman pitcher Ashley Rainey. Katie Smith and Myers singled to start the contest and Orgeron drove in Smith on a base hit through the left side for the early advantage.

The Trojans evened the score in the bottom half against Brignac as the leadoff hitter Hannah Renn was hit by a pitch and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Luquette. Nikki Hollett reached on an error and Michelle Hewett walked two batters later to load the bases. Sarah Shields came to the plate next and singled on a 3-2 pitch to score Renn from third.

Cherry recaptured the lead in the top of the second for UL as she lifted a 2-2 offering from Rainey over the left field wall. Erikka Murphy singled to shortstop and Natalie Fernandez extended her hitting streak to 11 games with a single, putting Cajuns on first and second with no outs. Smith moved the runners up a base on a groundout and Myers doubled to left field to plate two more Louisiana runs for a 4-1 lead.

Both teams were sent down in order in their next at bats, with Troy coming to bat in the bottom of the third. Brignac retired the first two Trojans' hitters before Hayden Gann hit a solo shot to center to cut the Cajuns' lead to 4-2.

Troy put a four spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth on five hits to gain their first lead of the game at 6-4.

Sarah Harris led off the inning with a solo homerun to left field, cutting the UL advantage to one run. The following batter Renn singled and later reached third by stealing second and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Luquette. The on deck hitter Hollett doubled to left center on the first pitch she saw to even the score at 4. Troy had two batters reach on a hit and a walk to fill the bases for Jaycee Affeldt, who lined a double to right center, plating two for a two-run lead.

Louisiana was retired in order in the sixth as Troy came to the plate. The home team added three insurance runs in the bottom half as they put runners on second and third with one away. Hollett produced an RBI single to shortstop to score Troy's seventh run and Hewitt knocked a single to center, scoring two more for a 9-4 advantage.

Smith was able to reach first on an error by Rainey with one out in the seventh but Myers lined out and Orgeron grounded out to short to end the ball game.

Game Two

The Ragin' Cajuns wasted no time getting started in the second game of the twin bill as Smith walked to open the game and Myers launched her sixth homerun of the year to right center for an early 2-0 lead. UL wasn't done as they loaded the bases with one out on an Orgeron single, Haack walk and Draheim base knock. The next hitter Cormier hit a grounder to third, which scored Orgeron and Haack due to a muffed catch by Renn on the force play.

Wallace shut down the Trojans in the bottom half as the freshman struck out the first two hitters and recorded a pop out to end the frame.

With two outs in the second, Haack drew a walk and Cherry singled up the middle, giving Draheim a run scoring opportunity as the junior stepped to the plate. Draheim did just that, lacing a ball to right center, which just missed being a homerun, for a two-run triple. Cormier walked to make it a first and third situation as Draheim scored on a successful double steal attempt, increasing the lead to 7-0.

Wallace kept Troy scoreless in their half, bringing Louisiana to hit in the top of the third. Smith recorded a one out single and advanced to second on a Myers ground out as Orgeron came to the dish. The senior smoked a ball up the middle for her second RBI of the day, scoring Smith for an 8-0 lead. Orgeron would later score on a base hit by Cherry for the nine run advantage.

Wallace would string together seven straight sent down until Hewitt led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple. Shields ended the shutout on a sacrifice fly before Wallace struck out Rainey to end the game.

Louisiana and Troy will play the rubber match of the three game set on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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Cajuns Split Double Header at Troy on Saturday

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